I recently came across a public safety system manufactured by a company called Nice Systems. Much like the Pelco systems, Nice Systems are capable of doing much more than only capturing audio and video recordings of predetermined coverage areas.
If a municipality has installed a Nice System in their community that includes intricate sensors and cameras connected to 911 call center software, those sensors and cameras can notify 911 dispatch minutes before any person can make a call to that same call center. This reduces emergency response time.
For example, let’s say that a busy intersection has the Nice Systems equipment installed. An accident occurs at that intersection. The equipment will automatically notify that area’s 911 call center of the accident seconds-if not minutes-before any person can place a call to that same call center.
This equipment is saving lives and will continue to improve technologically, keeping us forensic experts on our toes. It is the forensic expert’s job to understand how this equipment works and to use that knowledge to help the courts better understand evidence presented in a litigation that was created on this high tech equipment.
I recently reviewed an operator’s manual for a type of Nice System call center software to confirm some aspects of a case I have been assigned. The details of the manual are astonishing and the capability of the software is extremely advanced. Law enforcement officials have to spend time learning how this equipment functions so that they can maintain and operate the system to their advantage.
Sure, it takes more time and tax payer money, but this technology actually saves lives and solves crime. The time and expense are worthwhile.
As an audio and video forensic expert, not only do I have to research new systems that I receive evidence from, but I also help litigators understand the limitations and capabilities of these highly technical emergency notification systems so that the evidence created by these systems can be properly addressed by the courts. The bottom line is that as forensic experts, we never stop learning and growing in order to keep up with technology. When we learn, we help others learn as well.