At Tuesday’s City Council Meeting, the City Council approved a contract between the Turlock Police Department, the Modesto Police Department and the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department to share mutual Records Management System (RMS) data and information through the introduction of the CopLink crime analysis and records management software.
Lt. Ron Reid of the Turlock Police Department stated that the CopLink system would act as a bridge between police departments in Stanislaus County, as it allows participating police departments to access other departments’ files and records, including booking photos, criminal records, warrants, etc.
Lt. Reid also shared that Turlock Police Department staff would not have to be trained in any new programming or skills, as the software gathers the information put into the computer at the end of the day and transfers it over to CopLink.
The CopLink Solution Suite is an Internet based crime analysis and investigations systems that provides for knowledge based policing. CopLink is currently being utilized throughout California and is growing to locations out of State, as it enhances information sharing between local, regional, tribal, state and federal law enforcement agencies.
According to Lt. Reid, Stanislaus County already has access to certain counties across the State, such as Orange County, and would also soon be able to access records from both Sacramento and San Francisco counties.
The Turlock Police Department will now be able to access other local area law enforcement agency data bases, and eventually statewide data bases to pursue the investigations of crimes. The enhanced reach, accompanied by the increased security and auditing features, will ensure secure electronic multi-jurisdictional access and crime forecasting abilities, to better suppress crimes before they occur.
The City of Ceres, which currently shares a server with the Turlock Police Department, already paid the $10,000 costs to include Turlock in the transition to the CopLink system. While there is projected to be a yearly maintenance cost of approximately $7,300, the cost will be split between the City of Ceres and the City of Turlock.
Councilwoman Mary Jackson pointed out that a split cost of $7,300 is very inexpensive for such an advanced computer system, which Lt. Reid agreed with.
The Council passed the contract in a vote of 4-0, as Councilwoman Amy Bublak removed herself from the discussion and vote as she is currently employed as a Police Officer with the City of Modesto.
