Saving lives: New $11M technology helps NC troopers reach people faster
An equipment upgrade for the North Carolina State Highway Patrol could help state troopers save lives by finding people faster.
Posted — UpdatedAn equipment upgrade for the North Carolina State Highway Patrol could help state troopers save lives by finding people faster.
An $11.1 million project that began during the COVID-19 pandemic is nearly complete, and over the past several months, the agency has upgraded its dispatch system.
How could this help?
If a driver is in a part of the state they don't know very well and witnesses a bad crash, it could be difficult to describe the location to 911 dispatchers. Now the State Highway Patrol will know.
Troopers will also be able to view the caller's details in real time on their laptop.
The new system also allows troopers to see each other on a map, making it easier to provide backup or respond to emergencies.
Before this upgrade, troopers mainly communicated only over the phone or radio.
The project was funded by federal COVID-19 relief money from the American Rescue Plan Act.
“It’s going to improve public safety and trooper safety, and make sure we’re providing the best services possible,” says Captain Kevin Owens, Unit Commander for the NCSHP Technical Services Unit.
The computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system project is expected to be completed by early 2025.
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