Federal Signal VelocityMDS System Provides Efficiency and Automation to Enhance Public Safety in Benton County, Arkansas

UNIVERSITY PARK, Ill., May 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Federal Signal Corporation's Safety and Security Systems Group, a leader in advancing security and well-being, today announced that the Benton County Sheriff's Office headquartered in Bentonville, Ark., has deployed the Federal Signal VelocityMDS mobile data system as a mobile interface to the agency's computer aided dispatch (CAD) and records management systems (RMS).

The benefits seen by the agency are improved efficiency and automation, reduced response times to incidents, and greater officer safety. Officer Jesse Martinez boasts of the VelocityMDS system, "I couldn't do my job without it. Response time is almost cut in half now that we have this technology."

Benton County, one of the fastest growing counties in the United States, quickly scaled to multiple VelocityMDS systems based on the satisfactory results of the initial deployment. The system enables a previously unattainable level of efficiency and automation for officers with real-time National Crime Information Center (NCIC) index access, automatic notification and audible alerts of incidents pushed out from the CAD system, call mapping and automatic vehicle location (AVL) assistance in routing officers to incident locations. Additional VelocityMDS system features include: real-time chat, e-mail, internet access, security checks and ride-bys, e-Ticket, an optional Federal Signal VelocityCAM mobile video system digital video interface, voice commands and more.

As multiple agencies now share the Benton County Communications Center, the AVL feature offers officers instant visibility to other officers' locations regardless of agency or jurisdiction. The VelocityMDS system also enables live chat functionality between officer's vehicles. With the multiple thread search functionality, a single query on an individual's driver license number or vehicle license plate can return multiple results by checking NCIC, as well as wants and warrants across multiple agencies and jurisdictions. The VelocityMDS system was sold and deployed by Southern Software, Inc., of Southern Pines, N.C., a leading reseller of Federal Signal's suite of public safety software.

"Our Federal Signal suite of public safety software offers law enforcement leaders a robust tool kit to take control of events in their communities," said Michael K. Wons, vice president and general manager of Federal Signal's Public Safety Systems Division. "Progressive sheriff's departments like Benton County's prefer Federal Signal's VelocityMDS system to manage first responders from almost anywhere, access databases instantly and reduce response times. We are delighted to help Benton protect people, property and the environment in their growing county."

The Codespear-enabled Federal Signal VelocityMDS system is part of the Federal Signal Public Safety Systems industry platform.

About Federal Signal

Federal Signal Corporation is a leader in advancing security and well-being for communities and workplaces around the world. The company designs and manufactures a suite of products and integrated solutions for municipal, governmental, industrial and airport customers. Federal Signal's portfolio of trusted, high-priority products include Bronto aerial devices, Elgin and Ravo street sweepers, E-ONE fire apparatus, Federal Signal safety and security systems, Guzzler industrial vacuums, Jetstream waterblasters and Vactor sewer cleaners. Federal Signal was founded in 1901 and is based in Oak Brook, Illinois.