See how Real-time information helps law enforcement officials in Collier County, Florida improve response times and situational awareness
Background
Collier County is one of the largest counties in Florida, spanning more than 2,000 square miles across southwest Florida. While largely rural—the county includes parts of Everglades National Park and the Big Cypress National Preserve—its population is around 400,000, having nearly doubled in the last 25 years, and the county also hosts about two million tourists and other visitors each year. The Collier County Sheriff’s Of ce (CCSO) serves as the primary law enforcement agency for most of the county; in 2019, the department received 440,191 calls for service.
The Need
With such a large geographical area to cover and a growing population, CCSO was looking for innovative ways to help keep up with demand. They knew that while the coastal areas of the county were busier, the rural communities to the east were also growing and still needed a certain level of coverage to ensure adequate response times. But CCSO had another problem, like law enforcement agencies across the nation, the recruitment and retention couldn’t keep up with the calls.
“It was a matter of taking the existing staff we have and reallocating them to when the calls are happening,” explained CCSO Commander James Cunningham.
