Police services in Annapolis, Md., date back to 1867, and
formally begin with the Annapolis Police Department (APD) as the fi rst offi cial police department in the city. Today, the
APD has 130 sworn offi cers who protect a thriving city of
39,000 permanent residents and more than 2 million annual
visitors. Led by Chief Michael Pristoop, the Department is
continually researching and employing best practices that
produce successful results in police departments and
communities across the country. Thus, the Annapolis Police
Department is committed to the continued acquisition of
new technologies and tools. But whether it is improving
technology, increasing operational effi ciency or strengthening
protection of the people of Annapolis, the APD is an agency
on the move.
Challenge
In previous years, the Annapolis Police Department utilized
traditional methods of video surveillance to effectively fi ght
crime and ensure the safety of residents and visitors.
Traditional methods, which focus on cable, DSL and fi ber,
typically incurred large initial setup fees and were subject
to monthly service charges. Additionally, traditional method
service providers typically required long lead times, and in
some cases, could not provide service due to last mile
restrictions and other diffi culties. Alternatively, microwave
systems escaped the monthly fees, however initial
procurement and setup can often be costly.
In the Department’s effort to optimize the way it uses
available technology and resources, they set out to fi nd
a cost-effective method to transmit video from portable
cameras around the city. To do this, they needed a reliable
network that could accommodate a large bandwidth
application such as video transmission.
Sprint 4G keeps Annapolis Police Department on the move at blazing-fast speeds. APD reduces crime and increases safety of residents and tourists
using the fi rst wireless 4G network from a national carrier.
Solution
With the launching of Sprint 4G in Baltimore in September
2008, the APD was the fi rst law enforcement agency in the
country to participate in a four-month pilot project. The pilot,
beginning in January 2009, provided the Department an
opportunity to explore an innovative, new approach to public
safety that provided a low-cost, remote connectivity alternative
for video surveillance when compared to traditional options,
such as microwave, cable, DSL or fi ber.
Sprint brings the fi rst wireless 4G network from a national
carrier. Sprint 4G is capable of delivering speeds up to 10
times faster than 3G networks.* It enables surveillance units
to stream high-defi nition video without the lag, providing a
near real-time experience for the end user. With Sprint 4G, the
APD can utilize video surveillance for operational awareness,
special event management, short-term operations and
criminal surveillance, all while viewing the activity remotely
from headquarters or even en route to an incident.
*Up to 10x Faster claim: Based on download speed comparison of 3G's
600 kbps vs. 4G's 6 Mbps. Industry published 3G avg. speeds (600 kbps-
1.7 Mbps); 4G avg. speeds (3-6 Mbps). Actual speeds may vary.
Throughout the pilot, a partnership quickly evolved between
Sprint and the Annapolis Police Department that enabled
testing and evaluation of new 4G devices in preparation for
deployment, while assisting the Department in improving its
operations. Today, the agency utilizes a surveillance system
run on the 4G network, which includes the Sprint 3G/4G
USB Modem U300, in conjunction with the MBR-1000 Mobile
Broadband Router from CradlePoint. By using a dual-mode
device, the Department is assured that in the event 4G
connectivity were to become unavailable, the MBR-1000
will automatically failover to 3G to ensure uninterrupted
connectivity. The reliability, redundancy and local access
provided by this combination was an immediate win in the
eyes of the Department.
Bottom line
Since the start of the pilot, the APD has deployed a total of fi ve
surveillance units throughout the city and has looked to Sprint
as a partner and leading public safety solutions provider.
Utilizing video surveillance units operating on Sprint 4G has
resulted in more than 100 documented arrests and has visibly
reduced crime in Maryland’s capital city.
Together, Sprint and the APD received recognition from the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for their efforts in
employing cutting-edge technology to reduce crime and
positively impact the environment. The successful partnership
has resulted in APD’s further utilization of Sprint products and
services. For example, APD now utilizes Sprint Data LinkSM to
provide Internet service in police cruiser vehicles. Sprint Data
Link provides a secure, private network for the transmission of
sensitive data.
With Sprint 4G, APD has found a video surveillance solution
that operates on a network with the necessary speed and
bandwidth to effectively support law enforcement agencies.
As a result, APD has saved both time and money, but most
importantly, the video surveillance has given offi cers an extra
set of eyes on the street, helping make Annapolis a safer place
to live and work.
Sprint 4G is available in over 25 markets and counting and on select devices. See sprint.com/4G for details. The 3G Sprint Mobile Broadband Network reaches over 258 million people. © 2010 Sprint. Sprint and the logo are trademarks of Sprint. Other marks are the property of their respective owners.
“Utilizing Sprint 4G, the Annapolis Police Department has made several arrests
that wouldn’t normally be possible. The suspects and their actions can be tracked
using 4G speeds. APD now has comprehensive visual coverage and as a result
has seen a reduction in crime.”
– Beth Hart, Special Projects Director, Annapolis Police Department
For more information on Sprint 4G, contact your local
Sprint representative or visit sprint.com/4G