MANILA COPS USE GPS IN ANTI-CRIME
METRO MANILA, APRIL 15, 2008 (STAR) By Nestor Etolle - In about four minutes, a mobile patrol crew of the Manila Police District responded to a robbery in progress in San Andres, beating the seven-minute response time required by MPD director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales of his policemen.
The MPD’s quick response capability was a result of the installation of global positioning system (GPS) devices in all MPD patrol vehicles which have been configured to automatically report their location every minute so the dispatchers can determine exactly which vehicle to send and respond to the incident.
The first in the history of the country’s police force, the GPS device and the CityWatch service was widely applauded and received by businessmen who witnessed a press briefing in the newly renovated and modernized District Tactical Operations Center (DTOC) yesterday morning.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr., National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Geary Barias, Operations head Chief Superintendent Silverio Alarcio and other ranking police and government officials took turns in commending Rosales for his pet project.
“The concept (GPS and CityWatch) was early on conceived even during my terms as MPD chief, but technology and resources prevented us to implement it at that time. I am happy that it has now come to full fruition under Boysie’s (Rosales) initiative. We shall follow the lead so we can upgrade the standard in solving crime,” Razon said.
The DTOC, which serves as the “war room” or command and control center of the MPD, underwent a complete renovation and modernization under Rosales’ leadership.
With the new system, MPD personnel can immediately view from a digital map the location of incidents reported and dispatch the nearest available police vehicle through the GPS devices. The GPS installed in all MPD patrol vehicles have been configured to automatically report their location every minute, so the dispatchers can determine exactly which vehicle to send and respond to the incident. If mobile cars are not available, foot patrols have also been equipped with new handheld radios so the dispatcher can also radio them to respond.
With CityWatch, residents, commercial, industrial and other business establishments can subscribe to the service by purchasing GPS tracking devices and wireless alarm systems, panic buttons, and digital video recorders. Once included in the system, the alarm devices can automatically notify dispatchers of break-ins or robberies.
For individuals and companies requiring higher security needs, they can also acquire wireless digital video recorders and cameras and feed live video to DTOC’s flat screen televisions. CityWatch operates 24 hours everyday without holidays and subscribers are assured of continuous service. All devices compatible with CityWatch system can either be purchased cash or through a postpaid plan from the partner phone companies of MPD.
Also yesterday morning, Razon donated new anti-crime equipment to the MPD’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) to “boost its crime-fighting capability.”
“I do have a soft spot in my heart for the MPD having been district director here twice in the past,” Razon said in his speech.
Mike A resumes giving dentures to toothless cops By Reinir Padua Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Being the “patron of toothless policemen” is apparently a title First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo would not mind being called.
At yesterday’s ceremonies re-launching a program that was his brainchild a few years ago, the presidential spouse even highlighted the need for the country’s law enforcers to have a nice set of teeth.
“You can arrest criminals with beautiful smiles,” Arroyo told policemen belonging to the Quezon City Police District at the ceremonies launching the program.
The First Gentleman’s remarks drew laughter from the crowd of policemen who were given free dentures under the program.
Superintendent Jezebel Medina, chief of the QCPD’s dental unit, said this year’s project will benefit 151 policemen and their dependents.
“The First Gentleman is really our patron in this project,” Medina told The STAR after the ceremonies, as she noted that Arroyo has always been supportive of the QCPD’s dental program.
Medina said the program was started in 2006 and piloted among QCPD personnel, benefiting around 250 policemen. After that, it then spread to other government agencies and even other police units all over the country.
But Medina was proud to say that only the QCPD, through the initiative of its district director Senior Superintendent Magtanggol Gatdula, has continuously implemented the project for three years.
Last year, the project benefited 86 policemen from the QCPD, Medina said.
During yesterday’s ceremonies at Camp Karingal, the First Gentleman lauded the QCPD for continuing the project and for being the only police district that has consistently implemented the program. He also vowed he would continue supporting the QCPD’s dental program.
For this year’s dental program, Medina said the 151 police personnel were identified through the “charting” of policemen assigned in all 11 QCPD stations.
Medina said that at present, 93 percent of the around 2,783 QCPD personnel have been checked under the program and now have updated dental records.
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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