Now that we’ve all survived the first month of 2017, we can catch our breath a bit, slow down some and get ready for the budget battles a lot of us will fight from March through June as we prep budgets for the 2017 to 2018 calendar year. As a guy who has had to build and defend budget requests over the years, I wanted to call your attention to the items in this issue that may be of use to you and something else we at SouthComm Law Enforcement Media have done that you may find of great use.
No matter the size of your agency or the type of area you work, the procurement, assignment, use and maintenance of vehicles can be a contentious issue. How many do you need? What type? How will they be equipped? Isn’t it amazing how ill-informed a governing body (like a city council) can be if they are relatively new to the process? You might find some information in this issue to help you educate them, even if just a bit. Additionally, no matter where your agency operates, there is always the chance you’ll have to undertake some kind of search and rescue operation. Depending on the geography of your jurisdiction that might be rescuing hikers but it also might mean rescuing boaters. The technology that supports search and rescue efforts has evolved a long way in the past two decades and we have discussed some of the benefits of such evolution in this issue.
With regard to search and rescue, not only do you usually need vehicles and all of that technology, but you also need good communications, the ability to manage data and perhaps some specialty equipment usually used for surveillance and seeing in low lighting levels. In this issue you’ll find information relating to all those topics and items in our various product showcases. You just might find a solution to a challenge you face.
Last but not least, in the Purchase Profiles section, you’ll find information about how a different agency selected and acquired a solution to whatever particular problem they were facing. It may have been an equipment need instead of a problem, but either way their solution and how they found it is there for you to reference. So when a council-member asks if anyone has ever done before what YOU want to do now, you can say, “Yes, sir. Here’s the reference material,” and show them.
Welcome to February. SHOT Show is behind us (look for our coverage coming in the March issue) and you have 11 months of 2017 ahead. Saddle up; make your “to do” list; prep your budget requests and your support arguments for each line item. Flip through your back issues of LET for information on the products you need to improve efficiency, reduce risk and properly serve your community.
Above all, stay safe.
