How Smart Lockers Are Used For Law Enforcement Equipment Management

The search for new law enforcement equipment management tools has led many organizations to smart lockers which are growing in popularity among law enforcement agencies for their efficient, reliable asset management. 

So, how are real-world agencies actually using smart lockers? We recently surveyed deployment data for our LEA customers at Real Time Networks and here’s what we found.

Many Types of LEAs Use Smart Asset Tracking

Our analysis included a wide variety of law enforcement organizations, including:

1. Municipal police departments
2. Airport police
3. Public and private correctional facilities
4. University police forces
5. County sheriff’s offices

Municipal police departments were the largest group of users of AssetTracer smart lockers, but all different agency types were represented in the deployments that were analyzed. 

What Do LEAs Store in Smart Lockers

Real Time Networks (RTN) analysts identified that the most common items stored in AssetTracer smart lockers were firearms (including everything from handguns to long guns), radios, less-than-lethal weapons (including predominantly police Tasers), laptop computers, and smartphones. Other items commonly stored include body cameras, handheld ticketing devices, utility belts, Narcan kits, and narcotics test kits.

How LEAs Secure Their Smart Lockers

As expected, given the nature of their stored equipment, security was a major driver behind law enforcement agencies choosing smart high-security lockers for their police equipment storage. Almost three-quarters of the LEAs surveyed choose card-based user authentication, which integrates with their existing access control systems. Additionally, one in six agencies surveyed opted to use higher-security biometric authentication for access control to manage asset security. Fingerprint and facial scans were the most commonly chosen biometrics. 

Less common was the use of PIN codes. Since PINs provide a lower level of access tracking, they typically aren’t used in police asset management, except as a secondary factor in scenarios requiring multi-factor authentication.

Why Agencies Choose Automated Law Enforcement Equipment Management Systems

But, besides security, why do these LEAs choose smart lockers for their key and asset management? After all, a high-grade, steel cabinet offers security with or without the digital access control and sensors built into smart lockers. 

Interest in new law enforcement equipment management systems was driven by the need for better accountability over equipment use. As one lieutenant commented, “Manual tracking wasn’t working. Deputies at every bureau simply had too much gear coming and going every day for us to keep tabs on it all effectively. It was a matter of accountability too. We didn’t want personnel going out on a call missing one important item. Or have a car not ready when someone needs it.” 

Our analysis revealed that many agencies are interested in critical fault tracking on important electronic devices, so they know when devices need repair. When using traditional offline equipment storage lockers, they would only know a device was broken if an officer or deputy remembered to tell a supervisor. Smart lockers, however, prompt officers to log any issues when signing a handheld back into the locker, so no issues are ever forgotten. In addition, AssetTracer smart lockers send daily reports to supervisors, so they know immediately if a device isn’t working properly. 

“It was about workforce enablement,” said the lieutenant. “We needed a system that made [officers’] lives easier, rather than adding a layer of busy work just so the operations group got the reporting it needed.” 

RTN Chief Technology Officer, Lee Purvis, has worked closely with many law enforcement customers. “We find more and more law enforcement agencies are looking for an automated solution for managing their assets and keys. They need a solution that offers centralized data and reporting on what is happening at each bureau, but still gives the bureaus enough local control to manage their day-to-day operations.” 

Key Advantages Gained by LEAs Who Use Smart Lockers 

Beyond the benefits our customers highlighted, law enforcement agencies gain many other advantages by switching to smart lockers for their equipment management. 

Streamlined operations 

Smart lockers handle the tedious administrative tasks of asset management so your personnel can focus on more productive work. Your officers and staff don’t need to be on hand to facilitate every transaction. Instead, the smart locker system manages each transaction at any time of day.

 

 

Reduced losses 

Automated transaction logging virtually eliminates human error from the law enforcement equipment management process. Everything is electronically logged, so you always know who has which equipment signed out. You can also set curfews on sensitive asset sign-outs. 

So, for example, if an officer doesn’t return a signed-out firearm or drug kit at the end of their shift, the equipment manager receives an alert so they can investigate immediately. That will increase the chance that the item is recovered before it gets forgotten in a squad car trunk or left buried at someone’s desk.

Complete audit trails 

The detailed logging generated by smart lockers gives you audit reports that law enforcement agencies can use to show compliance for personnel accessing and using any stored asset. As a result, you can more easily demonstrate proper care for firearms, drug test kits, narcotics, and any other assets on which you’re required to submit reports. 

 

 

Automated evidence management 

Smart lockers are good for more than just managing equipment. The strong access controls, security features, and reporting make them excellent tools for evidence management. Modern smart locker systems can also include refrigerated compartments for keeping biological samples and other temperature-sensitive evidence ready for testing days, weeks, or months down the road.

 

Climate controls for electronic devices 

Biological specimens aren’t the only temperature-sensitive assets LEAs need to hold. Mobile electronic devices will wear down before the end of their planned lifecycle if you don’t store them in properly climate-controlled cabinets. Smart lockers can have ventilated storage compartments that keep electronics functional without compromising security.

 

Four Tips for Evaluating Law Enforcement Smart Locker Systems 

Smart locker systems may be complex technology, but evaluating which one best fits a LEA’s needs doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are four tips for identifying the best smart locker system for your agency.