Advancing Technology to Improve Situational Awareness

Residents demand that public safety agencies make timely and informed decisions when responding to calls; whether it is a simple traffic stop or an active shooter situation.

The challenge is that critical decision making can only be maximized when public safety officers have timely access to the most relevant and accurate information possible. ICS provides industry leading technology (Dispatch, Records Management, Mobile Solutions, and Incident Command & Control) that provide concise, accurate, real time multi sourced information to the officers in the field. This includes in field, direct access to reporting party/perpetrator data, historical residence data, current building plan schematics and even real time access to in-school video camera feeds.

“State, local, and academic agencies have a tough job. They have fewer resources, provide more services, and face increased scrutiny from lawmakers, citizens, and parents,” says Kyle Indermuehle, CEO of ICS. “We strongly believe that the data and awareness delivered through software technology is the key to increasing the efficiency and safety of officers. All our development efforts are aligned toward increasing the efficiency and safety of people using our software and the communities they serve.”

The Legacy of Supporting Heroes

For over 20 years, ICS has supported public safety agencies by developing core software solutions designed for critical agency operations. ICS views its role as more than a software provider and prides itself in providing best in class customer service. “The software is just one of the many values we provide. Our motto is ‘We Support Heroes.’ Agencies are most appreciative of our day-to-day support and access to our expert team with public safety experience,” says Kyle Indermuehle. This day-to-day support includes in-person training, online customer support, training videos, and a 24-hour support line that connects customers directly to ICS staff.

ICS’s Athena is a fully integrated, fully featured suite of tools that include core capabilities in Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD), Records Management System (RMS), Mobile Solutions, Incident Command & Control (ICC) and CitationWise (eCitation). Athena is used by 911 dispatchers, police, fire fighters and EMS personnel to keep their communities safe through a comprehensive public safety technology solution.

ICC: Focused on Increasing Effectiveness and Safety

Constantly innovating, ICS has continued to increase community safety and agency preparedness as evidenced by their Incident Command & Control capability (ICC).

Fully integrated with CAD and Mobile, ICC delivers critical real time information and situational awareness to first responders as they take control of dynamic crisis situations, large planned events (concerts/festivals) and natural disasters.

ICC allows users to manage events live from the field on their mobile device. Leveraging real time active mapping, users can select from pre-defined agency templates or simply create custom TAC plans on the fly to quickly assign personnel, resources and equipment. Dispatchers receive real-time updates and can instantly see where resources are being positioned. Most importantly, ICC provides responding officers with critical information needed to make more informed decisions. In terms of documenting events, all information entered within the ICC module is meticulously recorded as it happens, making it quick and easy for public safety officials to generate customized after action reports and auto populate FEMA reimbursement forms.

“Although the day-to-day value of ICC is rooted in improving efficiency of shelter operations, structure fires and providing organizational management of personnel in the field…the real value of ICC is accurate and timely insights that shorten the decision making cycle and ultimately saves lives. ICC allows on scene officers to coordinate with other support personnel while accessing the building floor plans and live video feeds from their mobile devices. This level of situational awareness and shortened response times are critical during unfortunate events like a school shooting and mass casualty events,” says Dan Sullivan, EVP of sales, ICS.

It may surprise some citizens, but even in this modern digital age many agencies still use basic whiteboards and markers to track personnel and assign tasking.

In a dynamic situation where the information flow is constant and ever evolving, utilizing outdated methods like white boards and cell phones to pass information puts users in a constant state of reactive catch up. ICC replaces these outdated methods and puts the user in a more proactive posture thanks to real-time information delivered instantaneously via a modern digital solution.

Customer Focused

Nearly all ICS employees have previous experience at agencies as dispatchers, patrol & SWAT officers, narcotics detectives, crime scene investigators, prison supervisors, records managers, TCOLE instructors and SRO’s. This real world, first-hand experience has enabled ICS to design intuitive, easy to use software solutions for public safety agencies complete with the best support in the industry.

“Saying we are customer focused is easy, but delivering the customer-centric experience day in day out is challenging. We have made it a focal point and a leading core value as a company. We remind each other of this focus and have it on the wall in our conference room. The proof is that we have many agencies that have partnered with ICS for over 15 years; several for over 20 years in fact.”, says Indermuehle.

Saying That We Are Customer Focused Is Easy, But Delivering The Customer-Centric Experience Is Challenging. We Have Made It One Of Our Core Values As A Company. We Remind Each Other Of This Focus And Have It On The Wall Of Our Conference Room. The Proof Is That We Have Many Agencies That Have Partnered With Ics For Over 15 Years; Several For Over 20 Years

The experienced ICS team never hesitates to go the extra mile to help users. While other companies view the installation of a new system as the end of a transactional relationship, ICS perceives it as the beginning of a lifelong partnership. Customers appreciate that when they call for help and there is someone they can talk to directly. These conversations with customers often spark new development ideas and lead to new solutions that benefits the whole ICS user community.