I just came back to Lubbock from being in a much smaller jurisdiction and have 1 issue that we can't quite get a handle on- 911 tapes.
Currently, the intake attorneys order a 911 tape when they see it referenced in a report. This creates a huge list of tape requests that go to the PD who eventually pull and copy the tapes and send them back over- much later. Then someone has to spend hours tracking down the case files (which has been assigned to a different attorney, who may or may not have the file) to match up with the tapes.
Gotta be a better way. Any input appreciated.

Todd

We met a few years back with every agency's Communications Supervisor or equivalent in the County and talked about this problem. We all made an agreement for the agency to keep the 911 calls for one year on their original tapes (no copying until requested). For some of the smaller agencies we actually bought more of the special communications tapes for them so they could keep up to one year.

Once the case actually got moving thru the system and appeared headed for trial, the prosecutor would request the tape thru their court investigator. This cut down the time the agency spent copying and also meant we only had the tapes we actually needed. Additionally, the understanding was also that we REALLY needed that tape so the agency would have it to us within about 1 week.

However, our agencies are now beginning to go to CD/DVD systems of capturing the calls which may change things somewhat. We are working with these new systems.....

The big meeting seemed to do the trick though and get everyone on the same page understanding what was needed, why, etc.