Do You Have a Plan For a Technology Outage?

This post is only offered as a discussion topic only and does not represent legal advice. Officers must refer to the laws in their own State as well as their agency's policies, which can be more restrictive on officers that the law requires.

On July 18, 2024, an update added to computer systems caused a worldwide outage of many operating systems, including the most widely used system, Microsoft.  During the outage, computer programs were unusable for law enforcement agencies nationwide. 

Do you know how to get around your city should an outage like this happen again? 

Law enforcement today relies heavily on technology to be able to function, whether it's for navigation or information. The problem is, if an outage occurs, crime continues and we must still be able to do our jobs. Some things officers can do to prepare are: 

1. Know how to get around your beat area without digital maps. This can include having physical maps readily available, including Thomas Guide, which is still available for purchase online.

2. Always carry a notebook so you can write calls down if the computer is unavailable. 

3. Have fully charged batteries and a full tank of gas

4. Know your agency’s plan and policy for emergency operations. 

Remember, you can still get the job done as long as you plan for any situation.

What would you and your shift do in case of an outage?

This blog topic serves as a summary of our video lesson on this crucial topic. If you're interested in accessing the full video lesson and additional resources, click the link to register for your free 30-day trial.