Law Enforcement

Law enforcement and emergency personnel in Sadieville, Kentucky, joined FirstNet in 2019. With FirstNet, first responders have access to a reliable and secure network that allows them to connect and communicate, even during times of commercial network congestion.

Police cars and firetrucks in Shreveport, Louisiana, were outfitted with new modems that are connected to FirstNet. With this new in-vehicle technology, first responders will have access to a reliable network connection that is faster and more efficient. 

During the 2018 college basketball championship in San Antonio, the Southwest Texas Fusion Center used FirstNet to monitor live data coming from officers in the field and security cameras. With a reliable network connection, first responders were able to quickly and securely send data and respond to incidents.

The Georgia Emergency Management Agency and Homeland Security has relied on FirstNet for a variety of incidents and emergencies, from Hurricane Michael to a lost hiker to the 2019 Super Bowl. With priority and preemption on the FirstNet network and access to deployable assets such as SatCOLTs (satellite cells on light trucks) and COWs (cells on wheels), first responders have reliable connection when and where they need it. 

Despite having large crowds descend upon the relatively small area of the National Mall, first responders did not experience disrupted communications during the 2017 Presidential Inauguration thanks to extensive planning and the help of several FirstNet deployable network assets.

Senior Public Safety Advisor Bill Schrier highlights emerging technologies that can benefit first responders and transform public safety services.

In the latest episode of Public Safety First, Dave Buchanan chats with Captain Craig Schwartz of the Santa Rosa Police Department about how drones can help law enforcement with better situational awareness to make well-informed, mission-critical decisions.

In this episode of Public Safety First, Washington County’s Doug Mullendore chats with host Dave Buchanan on how FirstNet has modernized communications for public safety for Washington County since his agency.

In the latest episode of Public Safety First, FirstNet Authority’s Senior Law Enforcement Advisor, Harry Markley and the FirstNet Board’s Vice Chair, Hennepin Co. (MN) Sheriff Richard Stanek sit down at the 2018 IACP Annual Conference and Exposition to chat about how FirstNet benefits law enforcement and the evolution of public safety technology.

In our latest episode of the Public Safety First, host Dave Buchanan chats with First Responder Network Authority’s Harry Markley, Senior Law Enforcement Official, and Jeff King, Senior Director of Field Operations on their law enforcement careers and the upcoming International Association of Chief of Police (IACP) 2018 conference.

FirstNet is a new nationwide broadband network dedicated to first responders. Designed with the advice of public safety professionals, FirstNet aims to give first responders 21st-century communications tools to help save lives, solve crimes, and keep communities and emergency responders safe.

The Noblesville Police Department in Indiana uses FirstNet to share data and seamlessly communicate with local, state, and federal agencies.

Up-to-date, reliable information is an invaluable tool for law enforcement officers. From running a license plate to identifying where other officers are located, knowing as much as you can about an incident improves safety and outcomes. But congestion on commercial wireless networks during a large event or emergency or a remote response location can limit your access to a data network — and the vital information you need. That’s where FirstNet can help.

Download a factsheet about FirstNet and Law Enforcement. 

For public safety in Niagara County, interoperability is key, and for years, agencies have worked on a regional approach to interoperability. With FirstNet, the agencies in this area have access to a dedicated network for first responders that also provides cost-effective interoperability solutions.

The Washington County Sheriff’s office was among the first in the nation – and the very first in Maryland – to subscribe to FirstNet. In 2018, the southern portion of the county was badly affected by a powerful line of thunderstorms. Within hours, FirstNet mobilized a Satellite Cell on Light Truck (SatCOLT), boosting the ability to communicate and coordinate emergency response efforts.

At the 2018 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in New Mexico, public safety agencies employed a drone detection system to monitor restricted airspace above the event and surrounding areas. FirstNet provided the critical connection needed to support the system as well as on-the-ground operations.

Each October, law enforcement leaders come together to attend several significant events that recognize the past year’s accomplishments and challenges, and work together to identify solutions and goals for the future. These events include the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Annual Conference and Exposition in conjunction with the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA) Fall Meeting and the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) Town Hall.

When Hurricane Florence hit North Carolina in September 2018, FirstNet provided reliable coverage and connection to public safety agencies in Whiteville. A FirstNet SatCOLT (satellite cell on light truck) was deployed to the area, and first responders used enhanced push-to-talk and to communicate in the aftermath of the storm.

First responders in Harris County and the city of Houston are exploring different ways to use FirstNet and its app ecosystem to enhance operations and break down interoperability walls.