Fiscal Note
Funds are available in the Police Department Capital Budget, Records Management System, project #10728.
Title
Authorizing a contract with Winscribe USA Inc. and Winscribe Inc. Limited for electronic police report dictation software, equipment and support
Body
PREAMBLE
Since 1999, the City of Madison Police Department has utilized an electronic dictation and transcription system from Dictaphone/Nuance. The number of police reports that are dictated and transcribed through this system each year has continued to reflect an upward trend, exceeding 28,000 reports in 2015.
The increasing operational needs of the department as well as advancements in technology have highlighted the growing inefficiencies of the current Dictaphone system. These issues center upon deficiencies within its core operational elements: report processing/management, reporting (and lack of dashboard tools), hand held recording equipment options, and system administration. This is further compounded by the inability to improve and enhance the current system due to the end of service life for server and system hardware, no inclusive application upgrades/maintenance, and limited support from the vendor.
In the process of finding a replacement solution that would meet the needs of the Madison Police Department, the Winscribe dictation system was recommended and then researched by MPD supervisory and technology staff. References for this system were obtained through a site visit to the City of Racine Police Department, as well as via a phone conference with the City of Lincoln Police Department in Nebraska. Both departments reported to be very pleased with Winscribe due to its ease in use, options, maintenance, technological advances, as well as the high level of customer support they receive, all of which are lacking with the current system.
WHEREAS, the current dictation system’s server and related hardware is no longer under warranty, risking the ability for the processing...
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