New Technology Speeds Up Process, Saves Lives, Claremore Police Say

The Claremore Police Department is one of the first in Oklahoma to use new software they're calling a game-changer. They say it's making them better officers and could even save lives during emergencies.

The new technology allows dispatchers to send Officer Doug Woodward and others the information they need to find a scene in a matter of seconds.

"This speeds everything up, just being able to book people into jail, take simple reports, property reports," he said.

It's all through a new system, created by a company called Spillman Technologies that streamlines the entire law enforcement process.

As soon as a dispatcher picks up the phone, the software plots the call's location and automatically shows where the nearest available officer is.

Before, dispatchers had to write everything by hand, but now the process takes only seconds - saving precious time.

Claremore Dispatch Supervisor, Stacey Dowden said, "Oh, it saves lives. It gets help there to people, it saves lives, and we're just, it's just like that."

Police officers were forced to hand-write reports, then go back to the station to type them in - often taking an hour or so just to file one report.

With the new technology, though, Chief Stan Brown said that time is now better spent patrolling, protecting and serving.

"Oh, I know without a doubt the system makes us all better police officers. Not only does it make us more efficient, it makes us more professional, it makes us more accountable," he said.

After seeing the software, Rogers County wanted to use it, too, then, they'll be able to share data and work together.