iPads?

[KenW.]

We added another detective (an experienced one who retired from another agency. He brought some good ideas with him.) who is suggesting we ask for iPads. His suggestion seems good, to be able to take it in while interviewing for the photography, audio recording, web connectivity etc.
Are any investigators using them? And in what manner? How are they working? Looking for justification points here.

I know the answer; "We gave you laptops just three years ago, and you're asking for iPads now?!"

We really need to enter the twentyfirst century.

[sgt jon]

Leverage technology when and where you can. I for one am a major supporter of commercial off the shelf technology (COTS) that can be applied “out of the box”. That said, there are countless applications out there that can be a huge benefit to investigators beyond the few you already cited…just search through the App Store and see.

As a talking point, while laptops are great, they have inherent limitations due to size and portability. Further, they are relatively benign and can sometimes be used where other devices could create barriers to free flowing discussions. They are everywhere and tend to blend into any environment.

I would research compatibility with your current systems and seek out guidance on how digital evidence will be managed in accordance with law and policy.

[Seventy2002]

Buying the latest tech is a waste of money unless the "system" is changed to use it. There's no point in recording interviews if you don't have server space to archive them or your prosecutor insists on a written statement with a signature.

[KenW.]

We use Spillman for our dispatching and investigations. We can attach audio, video, and scanned documents in the server so that works quite well. We do take written statemenrts and scan them into the system while placing the originals into central records.

Space isn't a consideration. If an iPad works well enough I'd turn in my laptop.

[Catman]

The vast majority of departments that are buying tablets should be spending the money on improving their crappy networks. I'm not saying they are not useful in the proper environment but they are often being purchased because they are the latest fad. I see departments buying these and they have no access to CJIS, CAD/RMS and their own networks. Some can't even get their department email on them. I can do all these things yet I am not wasting the money on them right now.

[Catman]

We added another detective (an experienced one who retired from another agency. He brought some good ideas with him.) who is suggesting we ask for iPads. His suggestion seems good, to be able to take it in while interviewing for the photography, audio recording, web connectivity etc.
Are any investigators using them? And in what manner? How are they working? Looking for justification points here.

I know the answer; "We gave you laptops just three years ago, and you're asking for iPads now?!"

We really need to enter the twentyfirst century.

Technology is technology whether its a laptop or a tablet. For what it's worth any laptop can run circles around a tablet so it really depends on what you are using it for. Does the 21st century mean it's time to have limited functionality? Again, I would be more curious how your network is set up and being managed. Many departments showing off their new, cool tablets have terrible network security and functionality.

[Jeremy84]

you can remote into a pc for cad ncic

[bsd13]

Why not a smart phone? Be it iphone, android, etc. You have all the functionality of an ipad plus it's a lot less intrusive size wise.

[Scott941]

you can remote into a pc for cad ncic

+1. I can remote into my PC in my office via my Ipad, through a VPN. From there I launch the VPN on my PC, launch my NCIC software and I'm in.

[KenW.]

After playing around with my daughter's iPad, I think a Galaxy tablet or similar would work just as well. even as me ntioned before, a smart phone with fewer limitatio ns than those already in place, would be a great step up.

Our issued phones (the finest free phones available from our provider) now are "for official use only-no texting". That means I carry two phones, or forward my office phone to my personal phone and change the paging number in dispatch to my personal phone. Sillyness.

[exalted]

In fact Brookline PD used iPad during the Boston Marathon 2014. iPad is great because it is easy to use, providing mobility and cost less to set up and maintenance compares to laptop or tough book.

[IAM Rand]

You can Dropbox your reports back and forth from your iPad to a computer. I have Capture Notes 2 on my iPad to take notes and record interviews. You can download a PDF reader. Your imagination is your limit with the iPad. You can use Skype to have a face to face with other people (ie supervisors/co-workers). If you are in the field and a supervisor is at home you can show them what you are seeing real time.

[haroonrasheed]

carrying a laptop could be a hefty task for officers because it takes a lot of effort so replacing them with some good tablet like apple's Ipad is an intelligent suggestion as you could do surveillance, video recording, etc with it.