As smartphones become ubiquitous in police departments, agencies are developing innovative solutions to keep first responders connected with critical situational awareness and the community. During this exciting workshop, participants will hear from agencies who are deploying cutting edge applications- in some cases created by officers themselves. A Chicago officer developed an app allowing officers to access key resources - department calendars, key telephone contacts, laws, ordinances, policies, and procedures. A brand-new app is allowing for a direct two-way information exchange with officers and community members to provide crime tips and information on community concerns—increasing trust between police and communities. Officers now have unprecedented access to actionable intelligence and community connectivity at their fingertips. When applications like these are accessed via FirstNet, first responders are able to safely and securely serve their communities like never before.

The session will include interactive demos of the solutions to engage the participants and demonstrate how the technologies operate, even in delivered in a virtual format.