The Finney County Sheriff's Office - Technology Administration

The Technology Administrator is responsible for all technological operations and management within the department. This includes all computer systems and components, copiers, phone system, etc. The Technology Administrators works very closely with the County Computer Support Coordinator to ensure the most efficient and consistent use and deployment of the various technologies.

The Sheriff's Office uses an IBM AS/400 minicomputer supporting a network of terminals, PCs and printers. The AS/400 is a model 9406-720 with an integrated Windows NT server. Most of the workstations are Pentium PC's running Windows 95 or Windows NT, although there are a few "green screens" still in use.

While the AS/400 is county owned and managed, it is shared with the Garden City Police Department and Municipal Court, who are responsible for their own application and peripheral management. This also allows for sharing of data between the Sheriff's Office and Police Department.

The software used by the Sheriff's Office is wide and varied. The records and jail management applications are from the Enterpol family of poducts by Huber & Associates. Both of these products are Lotus Notes Domino based and run on the integrated NT server of the AS/400 using TCP/IP. These products are distributed and supported by KnowledgeARC of Hays, Kansas.

The Notes products were instituted in January 2000 although the predecessor software is still used somewhat until all conversion is complete.

Imaging software from Real Vision Imaging is used to index and store mugshots, with plans to include most other paper generated within the organization, including statements, photographs and diagrams. This technology will allow users to literally view an entire report from their desktop without the need to retrieve a paper file.

In addition to most workstations being Pentium PCs, the patrol division uses laptop computers to complete much of their work. With the implementation of Enterpol RMS, patrol deputies replicate (copy) the entire RMS database from the server to the laptop at the beginning of their shift. Thus they have all available data with them in their patrol vehicle. Although the data is not "on line - on time" it does prove very valuable.

Also with the Enterpol RMS, the deputy is able to complete an entire criminal report or accident report (excluding the diagram currently) directly on the laptop and replicate it to the server at the end of shift, thus eliminating any use of paper.

The AS/400 is connected to the City/County Fiber network which gives the Sheriff's Office and Police Department full access to the Internet, other city and county entities, and district court as well as others.

If you are interested in obtaining more information on the systems or software utilized please feel free to contact Lt. Hahn or any of the vendors websites.