Guest Editorial by Matt Polega, Cofounder and Head of External Affairs at Mark43

In 2023, community members expect their local first responders to have the same mobile, modern technology that civilians use daily.

For many agencies, the lack of modern systems and software forces users to step backward in their professional lives. They work with antiquated technology systems that are slow and burdensome.

Many in public safety rely on a mobile data terminal (MDT) that is tethered to their vehicle to remain in communication with their team.

These older systems put first responders at an increased risk by not providing real-time tracking of an officer’s whereabouts or arming the officer with the right information at the right time for heightened situational awareness.

A recent Mark43-commissioned survey details that U.S. public safety professionals expect modern technology at work.

Most first responders (93%) said they rely on their mobile devices for emergency dispatch software, capturing evidence, or connecting with the community.

The sentiment across civilians and public safety personnel is the same: mobility is key.

(“Law enforcement turns to new tech solutions to help cops in the field.” Fox News TV highlights the growing number of police departments turning to new mobile apps, such as Mark43, to help them to serve their communities better. Mark43 co-founder Matt Polega shares: “Police can leverage mobile technology so that they can remain in the field and get information more quickly. By using their phones, officers know where they have to go, the route they have to take through the city, and they can even get a preview of the type of situation they will have to deal with.” Courtesy of Fox News TV, Mark43 and YouTube. Posted on Mar 16, 2023.)

First responders need responsive technology that meets them where they are: in the field, engaging with the community.

One of the best ways public safety agencies can meet their employees’ expectations is by prioritizing mobility when adopting new technology. Integrating all workflows into one mobile solution is key to removing the excess cost and burden of having officers jump from application to application.

A mobile solution also allows officers to self-initiate responses and capture relevant in-field data to strengthen their reporting.

I have long been struck by how much time law enforcement officers still spend in their cars, driving back and forth to the station.

In the above survey, 68% of public safety survey respondents said they needed to return to their offices or station houses for required paperwork instead of using mobile reporting technology.

No police officer I have ever talked to said they pursued a career in public safety because they loved filling out the paperwork.

One of the reasons my co-founders and I started Mark43 was to help cut back the time that officers spent on reporting so that they could get back to the reason they signed up – to further public safety.

Mobility is changing public safety for the better. Mobile technologies allow responders to easily record information from the field without returning to the office. Easy-to-use apps are vital extensions of mission-critical systems like computer-aided dispatch (CAD) and records management systems (RMS).

(WSMV on Nashville’s 911 center choosing Mark43 Alternate CAD two years after the Christmas Day bombing. “Currently, when the CAD goes down at the center, the backup is a sheet of paper. Dispatchers must record each call by hand, at times logging 100 calls an hour. Now, if it goes down, the Mark43 system will kick in.”

Mobility allows officers to be untethered from their vehicles yet maintain full, uninterrupted access to all the vital information they require.

To deploy this technology, however, there must be assurances that the flow of information to and from the field is uninterrupted.

Public safety agencies today face many challenges to the resilience of their information infrastructure: a rise in natural disasters, man-made critical incidents/domestic terror attacks, and even data usage increases that could impede an agency’s CAD or RMS.

Increasingly, public safety agencies are turning to the cloud for this core infrastructure.

Agencies are moving away from on-premises systems, with servers located in a facility inside the agency or municipal headquarters. They are moving instead toward resilient, redundant, cloud-native platforms.

Cloud-native platforms, operating without interruption, keep telecommu-nicators and first responders constantly connected to their communities to respond immediately to urgent calls for service, regardless of any natural disaster or other large-scale incidents that would strain legacy systems.

Mobile software running on cloud-native platforms provides first responders with real-time information and enables them to interact more effectively with the communities they serve.

It empowers first responders by allowing them to react and respond, no matter where their mission takes them. First responders should always have access to pertinent information that will keep them informed and safe, and mobile apps ensure that essential information is at their fingertips.

Modern policing demands that public safety uses modern tools and technology.

Public safety leaders looking to have a lasting impact on their communities should embrace the latest advances in mobile technology to continue to meet communities where those communities need them most.

(Learn how Mark43 provides a refreshing, proven enterprise implementation experience and product for over 200 public safety agencies of all sizes, with a special competency for major agencies. Courtesy of Mark43 and YouTube.)

By delivering a modern, intuitive, and mobile-first Records Management System (RMS), Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD), and Analytics platform, Mark43 empowers governments and their communities to improve the safety and quality of life for all.

Working with more than 200 local, state, and federal public safety agencies, Mark43 is transforming how first responders use technology to respond, engage and serve the community.

Mark43 provides the tools, resources, expertise, and security foundation that public safety needs today, tomorrow, and beyond.

To Learn More or request a demonstration, please visit www.mark43.com.

Mark43 Returns to Compete in 2023 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program

American Security Today’s Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards is the preeminent U.S. Homeland Security Awards Program, and now entering it’s Eighth Year, continues to recognize industry leaders of Physical and Border Security, Cybersecurity, Emergency Preparedness – Management and Response, Law Enforcement, First Responders, as well as federal, state and municipal government agencies in the acknowledgment of their outstanding efforts to Keep our Nation Secure.

The continually evolving ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program will highlight the trail of Accomplished Women in Leadership in 2023 and the Significance and Positive Impact of Advancing Diversity and Inclusion in our Next Generation of Government and Industry Leaders. Because #MentorshipMatters.

So be on the lookout for exciting upcoming announcements of Speakers, Presenters, Book Signing Opportunities, and Attendees at the 2023 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon in November of 2023 in New York City!

Nominations are currently being accepted for the 2023 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards at https://americansecuritytoday.com/ast-awards/.

Comprehensive List of Categories Include:

Don’t see a Direct Hit for your Product, Agency or Organization?

Submit your category recommendation for consideration to Michael Madsen, AST Publisher, at: mmadsen@americansecuritytoday.com.

Homeland Security remains at the forefront of our national conversation as we experience an immigration crisis along our southern border and crime rates that are dramatically higher than before the Pandemic across the United States.

These challenges have become a national priority with an influx of investments in innovative new technologies and systems.

Enter American Security Today, the #1 publication and media platform in the Government Security and Homeland Security fields, with a circulation of over 75,000 readers and many tens of thousands more who visit our AST website at www.americansecuritytoday.com each month.

The pinnacle of the Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program is the Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards Ceremony Luncheon Banquet, an exclusive, full-course plated meal event, in the heart of New York City.

The 2022 exclusive sold-out ‘ASTORS’ luncheon featured representatives of law enforcement, public safety, and industry leaders who came together to honor the selfless service of those who stand on the front lines and those who stand beside them – providing the capabilities and technologies to create a safer world for generations to come.

Last year marked the 20th anniversary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which came out in force to discuss comprehensive collaborations between private and public sectors that have led to the development of intelligence and technologies which serve to protect our nation.

The keynote address was provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations (OFO) Deputy Executive Assistant Commissioner (DEAC) Diane Sabatino, who described the changes to CBP through the tragedy of 9/11 and the relentless commitment to its mission and ongoing investment in the latest technologies and innovations to protect our borders and Homeland.

The resounding theme of the DEAC’s remarks was her pride in the women and men of the CBP and their families who support them.

AST was also joined by Legendary Police Commissioner William Bratton, who spoke about his love for the City of New York, the Profession of law enforcement to which he has dedicated his life, and for which he continues to drive thought leadership and innovation.

New York City Police Department (NYPD) Chief of Department Kenneth Corey, came out to address Luncheon attendees and shared some of his experiences and the changes in policing he’s witnessed over his more than three decades of service.

FDNY Chief Joseph Jardin honored the men and women of the FDNY, not only those who currently serve but all of those who have selflessly served, with special recognition of those lost on 9/11.

Chief Jardin spoke about the continuing health battle of many following 9/11 with cancer and respiratory disease, yet now knowing the full consequences, would not have made a different decision to respond.

As Chief Jardin noted, mission-driven service is the lifeblood of every firefighter, volunteer, and sworn member, and has been so throughout the history of the Fire Service.

Former head of the FBI’s active shooter program, Katherine Schweit joined AST to sign complimentary copies of her book, ‘STOP THE KILLING: How to End the Mass Shooting Crisis, thanks to the generosity of our 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Sponsors. 

The 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program was Proudly Sponsored by NEC National Security Systems (NSS), ATI Systems, Automatic Systems of America, guardDog AI, Fortior Solutions, IPVideo Corporation, Rajant Corporation, RX Global, and SIMS Software!

We were pleased to welcome the esteemed New York City Fire Department (FDNY); the New York City Police Department (NYPD); and the NYC Hospital Police,  as well as Executive Management from the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and many other DHS agencies, Federal law enforcement agencies, and private/public partnerships such as the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives (NAWLEE), the 30×30 Initiative, a coalition of professionals advancing the representation of women in policing; and Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI) (rail safety advocates).

The prestigious Annual ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program highlights the most cutting-edge and forward-thinking security solutions coming onto the market today, to ensure our readers have the information they need to stay ahead of the competition and keep our Nation safe – one facility, street, and city at a time.

In 2022 over 240 distinguished guests representing Federal, State, and Local Governments, and Industry Leading Corporate Firms gathered from across North America, Europe, and the Middle East to be honored among their peers in their respective fields.

Each year, to keep our communities safe and secure, security dealers, installers, integrators, and consultants, along with corporate, government, and law enforcement/first responder practitioners, convene in New York City to network, learn and evaluate the latest technologies and solutions from premier exhibiting brands at ISC East, and the ASIS NYC Expo.

ISC East is the Northeast’s leading security & public safety event, hosted in collaboration with sponsor Security Industry Association (SIA), and in partnership with ASIS NYC.

Corporate firms, the majority of which return year to year to build upon their Legacy of Wins, include:

Advanced Detection Technologies, AMAROK, ATI Systems, Axis Communications, Automatic Systems, BriefCam, Canon U.S.A., Cellbusters, CornellCookson, CyberArk  Fortior Solutions, guardDog.ai, Hanwha Techwin of America, High Rise Escape Systems, IPVideo Corporation, Konica Minolta Business Solutions, NEC National Security Systems, NICE Public Safety, OnSolve, PureTech Systems, Quantum Corporation, Rave Mobile Safety, Regroup Mass Notification, Robotic Assistance Devices, Rajant Corporation, SafeLogic, Select Engineering Services LLC, Singlewire Software, SolarWinds Worldwide, Teledyne FLIR, Valor Systems, and West Virginia American Access Control Systems, just to name a few!

Why American Security Today?

The traditional security marketplace has long been covered by a host of publications putting forward the old-school basics to what is Today – a fast-changing security landscape.

American Security Today is uniquely focused on the broader Homeland Security & Public Safety marketplace with over 75,000 readers at the Federal, State, and local levels of government as well as firms allied to the government.

American Security Today brings forward a fresh compelling look and read with our customized digital publications that hold readers’ eyes throughout the story with cutting-edge editorial that provides solutions to their challenges.

Harness the Power of the Web – with our 100% Mobile Friendly Publications

AST Digital Publications are distributed to over 75,000 qualified government and homeland security professionals, in federal, state, local, and private security sectors.

‘PROTECTING OUR NATION, ONE CITY AT A TIME’

AST Reaches both Private & Public Experts, essential to meeting these new challenges.

Today’s new generation of public safety and security experts need real-time knowledge to deal with domestic and international terrorism, lone wolf attacks, unprecedented urban violence, shifts in society, culture, and media bias – making it increasingly difficult for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Military and Private Security Professionals to implement coordinated security measures to ensure national security and improve public safety.

These experts are from Government at the federal, state, and local levels as well as from private firms allied to the government.

AST provides a full plate of topics in our AST Monthly Magazine Editions, AST Website, and AST Daily News Alerts, covering 23 Vital Sectors such as Access Control, Perimeter Protection, Video Surveillance/Analytics, Airport Security, Border Security, CBRNE Detection, Border Security, Ports, Cybersecurity, Networking Security, Encryption, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Campus Security, Security Services, Corporate Facilities, and Emergency Response among others.

AST has Expanded readership into integral Critical Infrastructure audiences such as Protection of Nuclear Facilities, Water Plants & Dams, Bridges & Tunnels, and other potential targets of terrorism.

Other areas of concern include Transportation Hubs, Public Assemblies, Government Facilities, Sporting & Concert Stadiums, our Nation’s Schools & Universities, and Commercial Business Destinations – all enticing targets due to the large number of persons and resources clustered together.

To learn more, please see the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ CHAMPIONS Edition Fully Interactive Magazine – the Best Products of 2022 ‘A Year in Review.’

The Annual CHAMPIONS edition reviews ‘ASTORS’ Award Winning products and programs, highlighting key details on many of the winning firm’s products and services, including video interviews and more.

The 2022 CHAMPIONS serves as your Go-To Source through the year for ‘The Best of 2022 Products and Services‘ endorsed by American Security Today – and can satisfy your agency’s and/or organization’s most pressing Homeland Security and Public Safety needs.

From Physical Security (Access Control, Critical Infrastructure, Perimeter Protection, and Video Surveillance Cameras and Video Management Systems), to IT Security (Cybersecurity, Encryption, Data Storage, Anti-Malware, and Networking Security – to name a few), the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ CHAMPIONS EDITION has what you need to Detect, Delay, Respond to, and Mitigate today’s real-time threats in our constantly evolving security landscape.

It also features guest editorial pieces from some of the security industry’s most respected leaders and recognized firms in the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program.

For more information on All Things American Security Today, as well as the 2023 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program, please contact Michael Madsen, AST Publisher at mmadsen@americansecuritytoday.com.

AST strives to meet a 3 STAR trustworthiness rating, based on the following criteria:

• Provides named sources
• Reported by more than one notable outlet
• Includes supporting video, direct statements, or photos

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