When Chris Sella stepped into his role managing technology and communications at a state agency, he faced an uphill battle. Overseeing the IT infrastructure for an organization with 850 officers spread statewide came with inherent difficulties, such as maintaining consistency in deployments, troubleshooting technical issues remotely, and ensuring officers in the field had reliable, cutting-edge tools.
The agency’s scope was vast, covering boating safety, hunting and fishing regulations, search and rescue, and managing state parks and forests. This diverse set of responsibilities demanded robust technology to enhance operational efficiency and officer safety.
However, the agency’s IT team was stretched thin. With no dedicated project managers and limited expertise in large-scale deployments, the team struggled to keep up. A planned rollout of rugged laptops — essential for fieldwork — exposed their lack of bandwidth and technical experience. Imaging hundreds of laptops and verifying they were configured correctly for statewide use was an unfamiliar and daunting task. The agency needed a partner who could provide technical expertise, staff augmentation, and a collaborative approach to solving complex IT challenges.
Engagement
APL Fulfillment Services stepped in with a comprehensive solution that combined technical expertise with hands-on support. The engagement began with an in-depth discovery process to assess the agency’s immediate needs.
One of the first hurdles APL Fulfillment Services addressed was imaging laptops — a task that required creating standardized software images for efficient deployment. APL Fulfillment Services’ team not only handled the initial imaging but also trained the agency’s IT staff on how to replicate the process. This knowledge transfer enabled the agency to manage future deployments independently.
In addition to imaging, APL Fulfillment Services provided staffing support to free up the agency’s internal team for their core responsibilities. APL Fulfillment Services’ personnel managed backend corrections, troubleshooting hardware issues and confirming that all devices were functioning as expected post-deployment.
Beyond immediate technical needs, APL Fulfillment Services also contributed to enhancing officer safety. By equipping the laptops with automatic vehicle locator (AVL) technology, the agency’s dispatch centers could track officers in real time, improving situational awareness and response times. APL Fulfillment Services’ approach was collaborative, with their team working side by side with agency personnel to overcome technical and operational challenges.
Results
The partnership between the agency and APL Fulfillment Services yielded measurable results. Within just over a year, the agency successfully transitioned from a predominantly paper-based system to an electronic reporting and citation infrastructure. Reports and citations that once required manual entry were now processed digitally, streamlining workflows and reducing errors.
The laptop deployment project — initially hindered by a lack of internal resources — was completed on schedule, with devices configured and ready for use. APL Fulfillment Services’ support didn’t end with deployment. Their team also addressed hardware issues that arose post-rollout, ensuring minimal downtime for officers in the field.
Perhaps most impactful was the improvement in officer safety and operational efficiency. The AVL technology integrated into the laptops allowed officers to coordinate more effectively and provided dispatch centers with a comprehensive view of resource locations. Reports were submitted to the state attorney’s office on time, meeting critical deadlines and enhancing the agency’s compliance with regulatory standards.
Insights
APL Fulfillment Services’ approach to this engagement highlights several key insights for agencies managing complex IT ecosystems:
- Scalable support: Employing specialized staffing to complement internal teams can significantly accelerate project timelines and improve outcomes.
- Technology as a safety tool: Beyond operational efficiencies, technologies like automatic vehicle location systems directly contribute to officer safety, making them indispensable in modern law enforcement.
- Continuous collaboration: APL Fulfillment Services’ commitment to working as an integrated team — rather than merely delivering a product — enabled solutions to be tailored to the agency’s unique needs.
The agency’s ongoing relationship with APL Fulfillment Services underscores the value of a trusted advisor in navigating the evolving landscape of law enforcement technology. From initial deployments to future updates, APL Fulfillment Services remains a partner dedicated to maximizing the impact of every investment.
To learn more about APL Fulfillment Services and their solutions for government and commercial organizations, visit aplfulfillmentservices.com.