GPS Discussion
Over at ChicagoDispatcher, a post from yesterday discussing GPS. We know they have it in fire trucks. We know they have it in Park District radios and the use it to regularly track their security people as we were given a very comprehensive demonstration of it a few months ago. According to the post, it isn't in the squad cars yet, but it's only a matter of time people. Big Brother is coming.
posted by SCC at 9:19 PM
14 Comments:
It is in the cars via the new PDTs.
I'm a sergeant who handled a CR# where the officers were identified via GPS. Apparently, the officers ran the guy's name on their PDT. OPS was not only able to track who ran the guy, but they were able to obtain the location of the officer's vehicle at the time they ran him.
There are several pages to the OEC printout involving the tracking. One page has hundreds of unknown numbers that almost look like some type of computer code. I assume these are compass points. The other page has a satellite photo of the identified location with the specific address highlighted.
So I can say for a fact that there is indeed GPS in our squad cars via the new PDTs.
Here's another thing. . . when you're driving around look at the upper right hand corner of the PDT screen. Approximately every 20-30 seconds a box will pop up that says "transmitting." Now you tell me, if you're not using the PDT for anything, why would it be transmitting on a frequent basis? While I don't know for sure, I believe it's sending the vehicle's location at regular intervals.
So what does this all mean? Well, I would imagine that in addition to knowing an officer's location, the Department could figure out how fast you're going. Perhaps they will watch for speeders?
Believe me, big brother is watching.
So Sgt I guess the people who actually work at OEMC have no idea what they are talking about. I am sure a dispatcher would be able to notice numbers printed on their print outs and what they stand for.
10:48:26....not necessarily...if they convienently don't show those numbers on the oemc screens or printouts...there's a thing called a computer program....you can lock out certain qualities of that program so certain personnel can / can't view it....no brainer...I am certain that the new PDT's have GPS...no doubt...CTA cars have it and have had it for years although it is not monitored on a constant basis but could be printed out at a supervisors request....in other words...it is not something that is paid attention to like a calltakers computer screen...but it is available.
I guess the people who actually work at OEMC have no idea what they are talking about.
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Wouldn't surprise me in the least.
to 10:Pm
The dispatcher may not know. Im sure the info isnt constantly monitored.
so tyhe comings and goings of evry car in the city isnt watched by a human all the time
But it can be when called for
I bet it is available to supervisory and investigative personnell if neded
this isn't brain surgery, for gods sake get your big ass out of the car and look on top of the roof, it looks like a black hockey puck in the center of the roof. Not all cars have them and some are wired already but have a piece of plastic covering the hole, i guess until they get eqipped with that hockey puck. Try being a little more observant.
Way to get around the Department's sneaky behavior of GPS tracking is to either do nothing like many of the bloggers have suggested (and is starting to look like a good idea, even though that would make for a very long day) OR log on to the computer then turn it off. Only turn on the computer when you need to use it for say running a name or going down on a traffic stop. Just an idea we got to stay one step ahead of them because they are always looking for ways to fuck patrolmen over.
To: 10:48:26
It appears from the tone of your post that you choose put your faith in an OEMC dispatcher rather than in a sergeant who is trying to inform other officers as to what technology is available to investigators. So be it. After all, the choice is your's to make.
I must point out though that at no time did I say that dispatchers were privy to this information. To obtain the search results, a request has to be made through channels to OEMC. In the case mentioned above, the request (which was attached in the CR package) was made by OPS to OEMC. To be honest, I don't know that I or any other sergeant would be able to obtain such information, as it appears that only OPS & IAD use this technology. I only know about it because the print out that I spoke of earlier was attached in the file. Perhaps this was accidential on the part of the OPS investigator. I don't know.
What I do know is that GPS exists in squad cars with new PDTs and the Department can use it to pinpoint your location at any given time.
So feel free to ignore this information at your peril.
Honestly, we (dispatchers) don't get printouts of anything, except for the lineups that the districts fax over.
If we have the capability at zone/citywide consoles to find out exactly where a car (or, specifically, a new-generation PDT) is at any given time, then much like other things that affect how our jobs are done, noone's told us. Our management and administration has said absolutely nothing to us about GPS as far back as we personally remember.
We weren't even given any words from our bosses about the new PDTs or that they even existed - we found out by chance from units in the field. CFD's dispatchers have *always* been able to look at their maps and see where units are. To this day, all that show on *our* maps are streets, buildings, beat boundaries, and "places of interest."
Not disputing that the new PDTs provide for GPS tracking (in retrospect and in light of the 10:15PM post, we realize that we'd have no idea). But in spite of the fact that (in addition to screwing you all) it would provide us with automatic knowledge of where your car is parked if something goes south, we have been informed of nothing.
To the Sgt who handled the CR#; could turning off the computer deactivate the GPS? I don't want the city knowing where I am sleeping all day...
Anonymous said...
I'm a sergeant who handled a CR# where the officers were identified via GPS.
You may not be anonymous anymore! Too much info.
If, and I mean if, the City has GPS in the squad cars we should demand an explanation as to why it is only used to jam a copper, but cannot be accessed to provide help to somebody calling for it.
There is no GPS, SGT?? right? He's a troll
QUESTION:
SO --- What if you log on the PDT at the start of the watch and then after a half hour, just TURN IT OFF (NOT Log Off) If anyone ever questions you as to why it's not on, just say the fu%king thing does not work. (hell, the damn things don't work half the time anyway.)
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