Kansas City, Missouri Police Department to Create Real-Time Crime Center

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - Oct 1, 2012) - Information Builders, a leader in business intelligence (BI) and analytics, information integrity, and integration solutions, today announced that the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department has purchased Information Builders' Law Enforcement Analytics (LEA) solution. LEA will serve as the centerpiece for iShare, KCPD's new intelligence-led policing software initiative. To advance its approach to proactive policing, the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department will establish iShare as the data-sharing foundation for the real-time crime center and crime analysis components of its new Law Enforcement Resource Center.

"Timely, complete, and accurate data is a valuable asset when it comes to reducing crime," said KCPD Chief Darryl Forté. "Information Builders' Law Enforcement Analytics will empower us to employ intelligence-led policing techniques that will make us more efficient and effective when it comes to preventing and responding to crime, helping us ensure that our officers and citizens are as safe as possible."

Law Enforcement Analytics is a comprehensive software solution that facilitates data integration and analysis from many internal and external data sources -- including criminal histories, incident reports, crime tips, and 911 calls, as well as computer-aided dispatch and records management systems. Other law enforcement agencies also using this powerful solution include Houston, Charlotte-Mecklenburg, and Milwaukee County Sheriff's Department. "Modern day law enforcement requires technologically advanced systems to stay ahead of the criminal element. It is an expensive endeavor, but the cost of crime to our community is significantly higher than what we spend on tools to solve cases. This investment will reap benefits immediately," said Lisa Pelofsky, president of the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners.

At the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department, the LEA package will enable the 24/7 collection, aggregation, analysis, and dissemination of critical crime-related information to assist with officer safety, expedite decision-making, support strategic initiatives, and create a single source of truth for crime data. Real-time information will be delivered to management dashboards, interactive maps, graphs, and detailed reports that can be easily accessed by the chief of police, his command staff, and crime analysts, as well as officers directly from their squad cars.

"Our officers will no longer need to log in to multiple systems to get the information they need," said Captain Michael Corwin, commander of the Law Enforcement Resource Center. "Timely and relevant data will be right at their fingertips, as they respond to and handle incidents. This will significantly enhance their ability to combat criminal activity, while improving their awareness and safety."

In addition to patrol officers, other members of the Kansas City Police Department will also reap benefits through Law Enforcement Analytics. Crime analysts will spend less time gathering data, and more time discerning critical patterns and trends that will enable the department to further transition from reaction-based activities to proactive policing. Furthermore, the command staff will have immediate access to the information they need to manage resource allocation in "hot spots" based on the likelihood of illegal activity.

"We needed a way to combine all of our disparate data sources and make them more accessible," added Corwin. "Information Builders offered an end-to-end solution that helped us avoid the need to piece together unrelated tools. Law Enforcement Analytics complements our existing software investments, and will allow us to roll out our Law Enforcement Resource Center with no disruption to our underlying systems."

"Law Enforcement Analytics is a proven solution that has been praised in countless law enforcement publications and delivered substantial results in real-world scenarios," said Gerald Cohen, president and CEO of Information Builders. "The Kansas City, Missouri Police Department now joins the ranks of other forward-thinking police departments that are leveraging our advanced technologies to transform the way they fight crime."

Information Builders' St. Louis, Missouri office is the regional serving location for the Law Enforcement Analytics solution.

About the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department
The Kansas City Police Department is the largest municipal law enforcement agency in the state of Missouri, serving nearly 475,000 residents across 319 square miles. The mission of the department, in partnership with the community, is to protect life and property while reducing fear and disorder. Formed in April 1874 and currently overseen by Chief of Police Darryl Forté, the department employs about 1,400 officers and 600 non-sworn members who are dedicated to serving all those who live, work, and play in the city. For more information, visit kcmo.org/police.

About Information Builders
Information Builders helps organizations transform data into business value. Our software solutions for business intelligence and analytics, integration, and data integrity empower people to make smarter decisions, strengthen customer relationships, and drive growth. Our dedication to customer success is unmatched in the industry. That's why tens of thousands of leading organizations rely on Information Builders to be their trusted partner. Founded in 1975, Information Builders is headquartered in New York, NY, with offices around the world, and remains one of the largest independent, privately held companies in the industry. Visit us at informationbuilders.com, follow us on Twitter at @infobldrs, like us on Facebook, and visit our LinkedIn page.