Ford, Telogis Offer Telematics for Law Enforcement

Ford and Telogis will offer a factory telematics system to law enforcement agencies that's designed to reduce hazardous driving by officers, the companies said while announcing the product at the International Association of Chiefs of Police conference in Orlando, Fla.

The telematics offering — called Ford Telematics for Law Enforcement — will be available in early 2015 as a factory option with Ford Police Interceptor sedans and Ford P.I. Utility vehicles. The telematics system will help command staff "identify and correct patterns of driving behavior that can put departments at a higher risk of preventable collisions and other accidents," according to a joint release.

"We have a responsibility to the communities we serve and to our fellow officers to make safety behind the wheel one of our top priorities," said Vartan Yegiyan, the LAPD's director of police transportation and commanding officer of the agency's Motor Transport Division. "The collaborative process that exists with the LAPD, Ford, and Telogis has allowed us to customize this solution to meet the unique demands of our organization and other Ford police fleets."

The product offers custom dashboards, alerts, scorecards, and reporting of driving behavior. Dashboards can help police fleet managers improve fleet utilization by reducing costs and vehicle downtime.