Sierra Wireless (News - Alert) and Feeney Wireless, a Sierra VAR, announced that the San Jose Police Department selected Feeney’s Cellular Internet Routing Appliance (CIRA) and the integrated Sierra Wireless AirLink (News - Alert) 3G gateway, in order to provide comprehensive mobile connectivity for its officers in the field. The total deployment, which involves 452 patrol cars equipped over a 36-month period, will allow officers to submit citations and gain immediate access to critical law enforcement data, including fingerprints and mug shots, directly from their vehicles.

Responsible for the safety of more than one million residents in California's third largest city, the San Jose Police Department creates more than 100,000 reports per year. The deployment of this wireless solution is part of an ongoing project to decentralize and digitize the department's records and field communications systems.

Deputy Chief, Diane Urban, said, "We needed a scalable platform that would take us into the future, including camera systems, video and remote sensors and communications equipment. We are going to send reports seamlessly, wirelessly - via a truly integrated paperless reporting and management system."

The CIRA solution comprises a WiFi (News - Alert) router that allows officers to connect laptop computers as well as e-citation and electronic fingerprinting devices over a local wireless network centered in their vehicle. The integrated 3G gateway then provides a real-time, two-way mobile broadband connection back to the department's main campus, as well as GPS information for dispatch.

"We are taking a patrol vehicle, the most costly asset a police department has - and turning it into their wireless mobile communications center," said Bob Ralston, president of Feeney Wireless. "By providing a 3G enabled Wi-Fi gateway to connect almost any device, and instantly communicate with central servers, we have created a truly scalable process that simplifies the addition of new technologies into their operations."

Justin Schmid, Sierra Wireless VP of Marketing and Business Development for AirLink products, commented, "This deployment is a great example of how 3G mobile broadband solutions can enhance the efficiency of our public safety agencies and ultimately, improve security in our communities. By reducing the requirement for officers to return to the main campus to file reports, comprehensive systems like the CIRA solution with its integrated AirLink gateway can help to increase the ability of officers to maintain a consistent, reliable presence in the community, where they are most needed."