This presentation will highlight the many, and sometimes not-so-ordinary roles of GIS in community policing, outreach, investigation and ultimately- impact upon accreditation.. The use of GIS and web technology is putting yet another tool in the hands of police officers and citizens in Valdosta, GA. Through in-car reporting, beat officers are able to not only fill out necessary reports, but also create the very data that they use on those terminals to keep up with everything from high-accident areas to extra-patrol requests and the most recent thefts from auto. Back at Police headquarters, detectives have incorporated GIS into their toolbox of investigative tactics by examining individual incidents and overall densities in the not-so-ordinary 3D GIS environment. Using these GIS tools detectives are solving crimes and not only beginning to forecast bad behavior by day and hour, but acting upon it and getting results. Using some of the same data and tools, local business operators now have access to business related crimes via ArcIMS technology. Thus impacting accreditation scores of the department and helping businesses to avoid being victims themselves.
Chris Strom is currently the GIS Program Manager for South Georgia Regional Development Center in Valdosta, GA. Mr. Strom’s record of service at the Regional Development Center began in 1989 with his assistance to develop and implement Geographic Information Systems in South Georgia. With over a dozen years of experience with GIS technology, Mr. Strom has successfully assisted rural local governments with the deployment and utilization of GIS technology to support decision-making in Georgia.