Computer Operations
The Computer Operations Division is currently staffed by a police officer and a captain, both of whom handle the daily operations, maintenance, and repair of the systems network and hardware. The unit officers currently are a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer and a licensed electrician.
The Computer Operations Division came into existence in 1993 when the Bergen County Police Department realized that it could no longer handle the huge amount of data that was being generated each year with a paper based records keeping system. It was also around this time that the County's first Enhanced 911 (E-911) system's were being installed. It was decided that a new mid-range computer system would be installed to handle dispatch of calls to patrol vehicles as well as computerizing the records keeping functions. A new mid-range computer system along with 32 terminals was installed and became operational in January 1994. This system continued to serve the department until 1997, when it was replaced with a larger client/server based personal computer network.
It was also in mid-1997, that the Bergen County Police Department Computer Operations Division received a request to take over the operation and maintenance of other County computer systems and networks. The Bergen County Police Department is now responsible for the operation, maintenance, and repair of the computer networks in the following facilities:
Bergen County Police Department Headquarters -
Hackensack
Bergen County Law and Public Safety Institute - Mahwah NJ Regional Community Policing Institute -
Mahwah
Medical Examiner's Office - Paramus Office of Emergency Management - Paramus Office of Highway Safety - Hackensac Domestic Violence Institute - Mahwah The current system connects the Bergen County Police Department headquarters in Hackensack with the Bergen County Law and Public Safety Institute in Mahwah, the NJ Regional Community Policing Institute in Mahwah, the Office of Emergency Management in Paramus, and the Office of Highway Safety in Paramus utilizing T-1 fiber optic lines to constantly monitor and mirror the systems. The remaining systems are connected to the network on an as needed basis with POTS lines.
The daily operations consist of the following:
System Back-ups Cabling and cable maintenance Software installation, maintenance, and upgrades Hardware installation and servicing (the Computer Operations Unit repairs or replaces defective equipment on site as well as handling upgrades of current equipment as the need arises.) Programming of custom software for internal usage The unit also has been requested by the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office to assist with the execution of search warrants to properly handle the seizure of computers and computer equipment so as to prevent the lost of any data of evidentiary value. The unit has also been used to trace threatening e-mail messages to the originating source on a number of occasions and has specialized software that is utilized just for these purposes.
Recently the unit has instituted digital imaging of mug shots and fingerprints, as well as the digital imaging of crime and accident scenes and accident reconstruction.
The unit is currently installing laptop based mobile incident reporting and the bar coding of Evidence and Property. As the sophistication of the criminal element continues to grow, this unit and the skills, knowledge, and hardware that they acquire will also continue to grow.
