Satellite Technology Feature Article
January 05, 2009
Mexico City Police Use Sepura GPS to Reduce Crime
By Michelle Robart, TMCnet Editor
Thanks to Sepura TETRA digital radios, the Mexico City Auxiliary Police (Policia Auxiliar) are keeping a closer watch on the city’s drug trafficking which claimed the lives of 5,000 people in 2008.
The digital radio’s GPS function tracks the location of each officer, providing quick and accurate reports of their position.
In addition, to enhance officer safety, an emergency button can call for additional support or help with the GPS able to precisely pinpoint the radio user’s location.
The TETRA digital radios also improve group operations because the location of each officer can be seen on the screen in the control room, enabling more effective deployment and coordination of resources.
Officers covering Mexico City’s most troubled areas were given Sepura SRH3800 GPS radios as part of a wide-ranging ‘clean-up’ initiative, to provide safe and reliable voice communications.
The project includes a network of CCTV cameras and an increase in the total number of police. In addition, new neighborhood police offices have been opened as well as a brand-new control center for tracking operations.
Conexiscom, Sepura’s partner in Mexico, supplied the radios for the officers. The company also developed the mapping application which the police force uses.
Administration Director for Policia Auxiliar, Yuki Susuda, explained the importance of GPS and its accurate position reporting of incidents.
“Sepura and the GPS tools will allow us to improve the rapid operation and management of our force,” he said.
“Many cities within the Americas, in fact throughout the world, will find Sepura GPS to be invaluable in assisting their tough fight against crime. It will give police added protection, and it can assist in operational activities, such as the pursuit of criminals or in criminal investigation exercises,” said Tim Mills, regional director, Sepura.
Mills says that in time, the radios will be used by other TETRA users to enable other services, such as fire, ambulance and utilities to benefit from GPS technology.
Michelle Robart is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of Michelle's articles, please visit her columnist page.
Edited by Michelle Robart
