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Green Government

US county police goes paperless

By Johanna Morden | 31 May 2011

A US police department is moving to a paperless system that helps officials investigate crimes more efficiently, while being environmentally friendly and cost-cutting.

The Sheriff’s Department of San Bernardino County, California is enacting a new programme, dubbed Presynct, that will entirely convert police report-filing electronically.

At present, filing reports require the use of paper. Deputies would file a report, print out a paper copy of it, which in turn will be approved by a sergeant. Next, a clerk will scan the report for filing.

“What we do know is that the department spends $600,000 over three years on ink and toner alone,” said Ted Byerly, Systems Development Team Leader for the Department. “If you factor in paper, that will be a substantial amount saved.”

Under the upcoming Presynct system, deputies can file reports on the system, which the supervisor will then approve and send electronically to the clerk for electronic filing.

“Ideally, there shouldn’t be any need to print out a paper product, saving a lot of time and money,” said Byerly.

Presynct is designed to streamline police operations and make the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department less dependent on paper.

The District Attorney’s (DA) Office will also be following suit in making filings electronic.

“Right now when we take a case to the D.A. we have to make three copies of the report,” said Byerly. “Once we can figure out how this can be done, we hope to be able to cut down a lot on that paper.”

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