New hardware would house “mission critical” databases including criminal histories, the sex-offender registry, the department’s intelligence and case management systems, and the Division of Criminal Investigation lab information management system.
The computer system also keeps tabs on the locations of Iowa State Patrol troopers at all times, “so if ever (there is) a public safety incident, we know where troopers are,” Bayens said.
Replacing the equipment will increases capacity for future growth, he said, and provide hardware and software stability to decrease downtime and power consumption.
Bayens’ budget request also includes $4.1 million for the sixth lease/purchases payment for the ISICS radio system, which has more than 21,000 users. The digital communication system is used by public safety agencies, first responders, schools and utility workers around the state.
• $565,000 for 11 portable bomb tech kits for the State Fire Marshal’s Office, which average more than 100 suspected bomb cases a year.
• $212,000 for investigative response, analysis and collections tools that are used by the department and other law enforcement agencies.
In 2018 and 2019, the equipment the department has was deployed 430 times to law enforcement agencies.