CPD IT DEPARTMENT

MEET THE

CLARKSVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT IT DEPARTMENT

In the last 20 years alone, technology has changed immensely. The way we go about our daily lives and jobs has become completely intertwined with tech, and this could not be more true for the Clarksville Police Department. Over the last several issues of VIP Clarksville, we’ve spotlighted different departments such as the Tactical Team and Crime Scene Team, but none of these would function without the IT department, who do everything from basic troubleshooting to building out servers and softwares that make all modern-day police work possible.

We spoke with Lt. Bryan Adams, one of the CPD’s administrative lieutenants over the IT department about the ways the department has changed over the last years in response to booming growth in Clarksville and in technology. So, here’s a brief history of the department, and how it has evolved to best support officers in the field.

Adams said that CPD didn’t really begin to incorporate technology into police work until midway through the 2000s. “Prior to 2005, we were still using 1975 technology — pencil and paper. In 2005, the department purchased its first records management database. It really was just a rudimentary database where we would handwrite reports out in the field, the officers would bring them into our records division, and then they would do that entry by hand into the system and to file those reports,” Adams explained.

From 2005 to 2011, the department operated this way. “In 2011, we identified our most proficient officer who had a technology aptitude. He is wonderful, he is still with us today and his name is Officer Mike Tanner,” Adams said. Tanner officially became the IT officer at CPD, and the department did away with paper reports and began filing them all electronically despite only having five laptops — or mobile data terminals (MDTs) as Adams refers to them— for over 200 officers to share. “So we had a big project where we purchased well over 200 MDTs and mobile devices. We brought on Verizon mobile phones for every officer, so they could capture that reporting data in the field with either their mobile devices or when they get back to their car with their MDT or laptop and finish the report or enter data there,” Adams continued.

In 2014, Adams said he came on as the administrative lieutenant over technology. Until 2016, he and Tanner were the only ones working on CPD’s technology, along with the help of the City of Clarksville’s enterprise technology department. By this time, the CPD had grown considerably. “The department came to the realization that Mike and I just couldn’t’t handle supporting now well over 300 officers at the time and their daily needs. As you know, people have issues with their cell phones, their MDTs and software, login issues, forgetting passwords, everything that comes along with that support.” CPD then hired Billy Allen, a civilian who’s now an applications analyst, and he handles the software used by the department. Then in 2018, the department added another civilian named Gerald Snyder to maintain the laptops.

With several employees now working exclusively on technology with Clarksville Police, Adams explained that structure was needed.

“In 2019 we brought on Sgt. Chris Cunningham, a sworn officer who is now directly over technology. I wear many hats since I’m over our technology, records, and capital projects, but Sgt. Cunningham is directly responsible for the technology at In May, the program held its first annual scholarship and award ceremony. Thanks to the generosity of one mentee’s parent who donated the funds to cover the trophies, Parsons and the mentors were able to celebrate the boys’ achievements over the year. “Seeing their gratitude coming up to receive our department.” Cunningham explains that the work they do those awards — we gave them medallions to put over their heads — and they touches every aspect of the police department’s work. “It could got certificates.” The boys received awards like Best Artist, Most Creative, be as basic as the computer they’re using and needing help with and Best Personality. Some awards were based on the amount of volunteer troubleshooting for a password — all the way to researching or work the boys did over the year. They also took the Oath of the Young Kings helping with 3D mapping crime scenes and the equipment to in front of their families, and some received college scholarships. do that,” he said. But in order for the mentorship program to continue, Parsons and Bragg said they need sponsors and mentors from the community. “We are looking Then, another member of the tech team was hired in 2020. for mentors. We want people to join us — dedicated people that are willing Joseph Redden, who is an applications specialist, maintains IT’s to help us,” Parsons said. “And along with trying to run a program, we need work order system. financial support. We’re looking for sponsorships and funds,” Bragg added. Every time the program meets, there is a meal served and currently the Cunningham also explained the unique aspects to working for a police force’s IT department, one of those being the “mission critical” nature of some jobs they’re tasked with. “Everything we program has about 20 members that show up to every meeting. Parsons, Bragg, and the other organizers currently cover those expenses out of pocket. do is to ensure the officer is operational when it comes to their All school-age boys are welcome to attend the free mentorship program, tech, so when something goes down, we have to get it up right which is hosted from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the last Saturday of each then and there. Not to dismiss another field’s IT department, but month at Emmanuel Family Life Center at 303 Fairview Lane in Clarksville. if a server goes down in some other place, it might not have as much of a mission critical requirement. But if we have a problem Those interested may sign up for orientation, but Parsons encourages anyone that’s interested to just stop by and check out the program first. with our radio system, that’s the first responder radio system that police and fire use, so that’s absolutely mission critical,”

Cunningham told VIP. If the department’s radio or server goes down, lives are on the line, which is why it’s necessary the IT department is at the ready with back-up and tertiary plans in place to make sure everything remains functional in an emergency. “Everything that that police officer has on him and almost everything they use touches technology, so when you look at their car and what they wear, that’s why our service is important.”

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