Issue link: http://lawandordermag.epubxp.com/i/144260
The SCSO has divided its jurisdiction into four sectors. Each of these sectors is divided into fve smaller zones, except for one sector that contains four zones, creating a total of 19 zones. Sharing information among deputies and offcers who work in these zones is paramount because these constitute the patrol areas where the vast majority of their time is spent. Additionally, administrative personnel, such as sergeants and lieutenants, who supervise deputies in many zones, have individualized needs for accessing and sharing different types of information germane to each of these areas. To ensure the Sarasota County Sheriff's Offce (SCSO) is practicing the most informed enforcement procedures possible, the agency has recently embarked on a unique collaborative mission. At the heart of this effort is Microsoft SharePoint®, a collaborative software package, which is increasing the capability of deputies within the agency to share data with one another, while simultaneously fostering information sharing between law enforcement agencies who share jurisdictions and among other key criminal justice agencies, i.e., three other police departments who have jurisdictional overlap and county attorney's offces. Other law enforcement agencies around the U.S. and abroad currently have implemented information management strategies based on SharePoint software, i.e., Ogden, Utah Police; Oklahoma City, Okla.; Maryland State Police; and Miami-Dade, Fla. Police but the level of collaboration taking place in Sarasota County is distinctly progressive and can serve as a model for other agencies to build on. SharePoint is a computer software program specifcally intended as a conduit for sharing information between groups of people. Although SharePoint was originally designed for the corporate work environment, the program is well suited to law enforcement agencies for a number of reasons. First and foremost, SharePoint operates on a secure Web-based network. Information related to ongoing investigations, for example, must be protected and SharePoint offers the requisite levels of protection. Deputies have access to SharePoint, via wireless connectivity, in their cruisers while on the scenes of investigations. Patrol deputies access relevant information through the SharePoint portal. Second, the Web-based format of the program also affords offcers the opportunity to have immediate access to information another offcer has added to the database. Offcers do not experience a signifcant time lag between when information is posted and when it becomes available. Third, SharePoint is user-friendly. Offcers usually move relatively quickly through a shallow learning curve because the program is no more diffcult to use than other Microsoft® programs, such as Outlook®, which many are probably already familiar with. Fourth, agencies can tailor a SharePoint platform to ft their size and scope. SCSO has confgured their SharePoint portal to meet the needs of all of the divisions within the agency. www.lawandordermag.com 27