ASSOCIATE Magazine FBINAA Q3-2026

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mission by supporting one another, sharing knowledge, and fos tering the camaraderie that begins at the National Academy and continues throughout our careers. Consider volunteering for a position on your chapter execu tive board, helping at luncheons or training events, or simply coming to me or your local representatives with ideas on how we can improve our organization. I look forward to visiting chapters throughout Section IV, hear ing your ideas, celebrating your successes, and working collabora tively to ensure every member feels connected and represented. Thank you for your dedication to our profession and to this remarkable association. It is a privilege to serve you, and I am excited for all that we will accomplish together. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me if I can ever be of service to you. 93% of first responders say coordination between agencies is critical when responding to an emergency. If officers have trouble communicating with each other and accessing their own data, it’s even more challenging to collaborate with other first responders who may use different technologies. Implementing an operational intelligence platform, like Panasonic Connect’s TOUGHCom mand®, helps streamline information sharing and access. An AI-first design makes it easy to manage data in one place and automate reporting. Meanwhile, an open API framework breaks down data silos across teams so all responders have access to the same background information for better decision-making onsite. This seamless data sharing combined with accurate GPS data helps dispatch teams route responders to calls effectively. They can easily determine the appropriate number of reinforce ments based on the severity of the call and allocate officers most efficiently based on their current GPS location. Officers also gain insight into which team members will be supporting them onsite for better situational awareness and coordination. Further, a centralized operational intelligence platform with accurate AI-powered GPS mapping ensures officers take the most efficient route to a call. Meanwhile, roadway safety alerting uses GPS-based proximity triggers to reduce collision risk between first responders and the general public. This is especially critical at intersections where multiple first responder vehicles may ap proach at the same time, allowing for coordinated pre-emption so all responders arrive to the scene in a safe and timely fashion. CENTRALIZING FLEET INTELLIGENCE & DEVICE DATA FOR BETTER PERFORMANCE Fleet intelligence has evolved beyond simply knowing what is happening to understanding what that information means and using those insights to drive action. AI plays a critical role in un locking the full value of connected fleet technology, transforming platforms from passive data sets into intelligent systems capable of analyzing information from vehicles and field devices in real time. This shift enables organizations to act on insights immedi ately rather than collecting data solely for review after the fact. Brian McKeown Section IV Representative, NA Session 264 bmckeown@fbinaa.org

Instead of manually analyzing vehicle speed, braking pat terns, location, and route history, fleet maintenance teams gain access to actionable insights for more informed decisions about where they spend their time. With connected vehicle technology and AI-powered analytics, agencies gain real-time insight into vehicle locations, usage patterns, maintenance needs, and op erational conditions. This empowers maintenance teams to pre dict the need for a vehicle repair before it results in downtime. Meanwhile, officers gain peace of mind to focus on coordinating an efficient response instead of worrying about vehicle health. While vehicles are responsible for getting officers to the scene, mobile devices from vehicle-docked laptops to tablets ensure they arrive with the situational awareness necessary to respond effectively. A platform like TOUGHCommand helps de partments stay ahead of device failures with proactive monitor ing designed specifically for mobile environments. In addition to tracking vehicle health, teams can monitor computers and peripheral equipment in real-time with the ability to analyze and act on more than 100 data points from their devices. This way, IT teams gain seamless visibility across the entire mobile device fleet, minimizing the likelihood of downtime so officers arrive at scenes feeling both informed and prepared. Building the Foundation for the Future of Smart Response Connected vehicle technology is more than systems and data. It represents the next evolution of law enforcement technology, creating a foundation where vehicles, devices, and data operate as a connected ecosystem for more seamless workflows across officers, dispatch, and other first responders. By bringing together real-time intelligence, seamless interoperability, and integrated service systems, comprehensive operational intelligence platforms for connected vehicles power more proactive operations and efficient responses. Officers can rest assured that they’ll have access to the data they need when they need it and be able to share that critical information among first responders in real-time. Further, IT and fleet maintenance teams can more efficiently and effectively manage devices and vehicles for optimal uptime. In addition to these operational gains, departments benefit from lower costs by consolidating systems, boosting efficiency, and reducing unnecessary spend across operations. By monitor ing vehicle health, they prevent more extensive, costly repairs and eliminate the need for multiple systems and providers, lowering hardware and vendor costs. At the end of the day, connected vehicle systems are all about empowering officers to anticipate risks, navigate uncer tainty, collaborate more seamlessly, and make more informed decisions. This is what will help departments navigate rising demand amid limited resources.

FBINAA.ORG | Q3 2026

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About the Author: Aidan Clifford serves as Sales Direc tor at Panasonic Connect North America, focusing on equipping the public sector industry with rugged mobile solutions. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in public administration from Samford University and his master’s in business administration from Ohio Univer sity. aidan.clifford@us.panasonic.com

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