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East End Tick and Mosquito Control
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Story - News

Southampton Town Board Holds Off On Police Technology Upgrade Funding

Publication: The Southampton Press
By Lisa Finn   Feb 13, 2012 12:43 PM
Feb 15, 2012 11:22 AM
Southampton Town Police Chief William Wilson met with the Town Board on February 3. LISA FINN
Southampton Town Police Chief William Wilson met with the Town Board on February 3. LISA FINN
A planned vote by the Southampton Town Board on the first part of a two-phase proposed technology upgrade plan for the Southampton Town Police Department did not take place this week as expected after concerns were raised that the measure would not garner enough support to pass.

After a presentation at a work session on February 3 by Southampton Town Police Chief William Wilson, at which he pitched a two-phase plan to introduce new software that would streamline and automate police procedures including ticketing, records management, and other time-consuming tasks that currently must be done manually, the board was divided about moving forward, with some board members questioning the chief’s choice of software brand and asking that other options be explored.

On Monday, Southampton Town Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst said that while the... more

Couldn't the Suffolk County HQ section buy this technology and share the results with all the different municipal police forces? Pool resources save money.
By Duckbornandraised (49), Eastport on Feb 13, 12 9:52 PM
What's the point of having a Town Police Force if you're going to give the keys to the cupboard to the County?

Don't think that SCPD wouldn't love to gain a greater foothold on the East End.
By Frank Wheeler (964), Northampton on Feb 13, 12 10:33 PM
Sorry Frank - but maybe you're off on this one. Understand your "foothold" remark but it's not who writes the tickets, but how they are processed and keeping track of drivers who may/may not be in one "system" that is being discussed - I hope! Shared technology and programming could go a long way to reduce all of our costs (we do pay the County for certain things last time I checked - unfortunately perhaps - police and all) so perhaps it's not the "results" but the how-to-get-it-done and save ...more
By Board Watcher (299), East Hampton on Feb 14, 12 12:03 AM
And maybe I'm not, BW -- I'm not talking about "ticketing," so much as inviting more of an SCPD presence into the East End.

I think it's often referenced as "the camel's nose under the tent."

And while I don't often agree with HHS (mostly because I don't understand what he's carrying on about!), I think his comment (beneath this note) is a good one.
By Frank Wheeler (964), Northampton on Feb 14, 12 12:31 PM
Putting aside the question of whether this upgrade is actually needed, it would be foolish to put it under the supervision of a chief of police who ran up $$850K in overtime charges last year. There have been countless cases wherein computer technology "upgrades" that were touted for their potential cost-saving efficiency wound up costing a fortune due to inept implementation. Chief Wilson has to date shown no ability to manage a project such as this. (Just what IS his academic and managerial ...more
By highhatsize (1177), East Quogue on Feb 14, 12 12:04 PM
Many municipalities, including NY City with its new E-911 system, have stopped allowing their uniformed service agencies to "manage" important information technology projects and have opted to place them under their IT agencies, with the uniformed agency as the client. Police (and Fire, EMT et. al.) need to stick with what they know and let the IT folks get them the technology solutions they need, usually with more accountability and better results.
By zaz (129), East Hampton on Feb 14, 12 8:16 PM
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