New software system aims to improve efficiency for St. Joseph Police Department

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- Earlier this year, the St. Joseph City Council approved a $1.65 million contract with TBL Systems, Inc., to purchase new software for the St. Joseph Police Department.

The new computer system will support 911 call handling, officer dispatch, report writing, jail operations, court interface, digital evidence management and state and federal data reporting requirements.

KQ2 previously reported that the new system will not have any additional cost to the taxpayers.

Paul Luster said the department is replacing a system more than 20 years old, adding that it is important for officers to have technology to keep pace with the speed and complexity of modern policing.

"We wanted to really look at a system that brings all of the critical information together places that directly in the hands of our officers in the field," he said.

The new system will be entirely mobile-based.

"The officers can now (use) from their city-owned device," Luster said. "They can write tickets, they can take police reports, they can do a lot of things right from that iPhone, and so that just makes them a lot more efficient."

Luster added that the new system is not just a tech upgrade but an investment in public safety.

"It's an investment in better service. It shows the strong partnerships, so with this, we partnered with the Sheriff's office, with the fire department, with the health department, and with Missouri Western Police Department to make sure we're all using that same platform and we can be as efficient as we can," he said. "We're putting this tool in the hands of the entire public safety realm in the community."

The new system will be a lot more efficient for the younger officers.

"A lot of our younger generation is very in-depth with the handheld technology. For them to be able to say open up a police report on their phone and be able to start typing that report," Luster said. "Seems foreign to me, seems like it would probably take me longer, but for them, that's what they've grown up with. We think that's gonna be a lot more efficient for them."

With the system being entirely mobile-based, officers will be able to complete more tasks in the field, reducing paperwork and improving efficiency.”

"They will be able to do it from their car computer or from their phones. Obviously, we work with our evidence manager a lot to make sure it was more efficient for him. That's gonna provide him the ability to move evidence in batches where he could once again scan from the I device and move evidence," Luster said. "That’s all captured now behind the scenes electronically. Regards to evidence, we'll have that really good chain of custody."

Dispatchers played a key role in designing the new Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) system, providing input throughout the development process.

"The company engineer worked extensively with our dispatchers to make sure that (the) system was intuitive as it could be for them," Luster said. "They've been currently testing that, and they are very pleased with what they're working with right now."

Luster said the department is really excited for the new system.

"There's a good buzz around it, we're hoping for a smooth rollout," he said.

Luster said the new system is set to go live this week.