Deputies in the Kit Carson County Sheriff’s Office in Burlington, Colorado are upgrading their duty vests with Samsung Galaxy S9 smartphones. The mobile devices, connected to the FirstNet public safety communications platform and enabled with FirstNet Certified™ Visual Labs software, give the officers a tool for critical communications between personnel in-field and in-station, while also serving as a body camera and evidence documentation tool. Additionally, the Galaxy smartphones act as personnel locators, digital cameras, and secondary radios using the push-to-talk function.

Colorado Sheriff’s Office deploys Samsung Galaxy smartphones as Body-Worn Cameras 2

Image of Galaxy S9 as bodyworn camera for use case/ illustration purpose only.

“Our Sheriff’s Office’s small team of patrol deputies cover over 2,000 square miles of ground in our county, which means they’re always on the move,” said Kit Carson County Sheriff Tom Ridnour. “With Samsung devices connected to the FirstNet dedicated public safety communications platform, the body camera footage captured via Visual Labs uploads automatically. Our officers don’t have to take any extra steps to connect—everything is streamlined.”

Samsung Galaxy smartphones keep the first responders connected to the FirstNet network, which prioritizes public safety communications. The Galaxy S9 was the first smartphone to earn FirstNet Ready™ certification, allowing it to function with priority and preemption both on the Band 14 FirstNet spectrum and across the full AT&T LTE spectrum portfolio—a feature that is now standard on all new premium Galaxy smartphones and tablets.

With Visual Labs software, officers can now record from their devices and livestream directly from the field, knowing the command central will have access to the content reliably and in real-time. Visual Labs requires no docking stations or in-car routers and does not detract from smartphone capabilities such as phone calls, instead adding functionality on top of what is already available to make the device a multi-use tool.

“The combination of software and hardware has made upgrading our officer mobility solution cost-effective and simple. It has truly transformed the way we do our jobs,” said Ridnour. “Instead of worrying about taking notes throughout a call, the devices allow officers to concentrate on the call itself, knowing that they can reference the footage later.”

In addition to being FirstNet Ready, Galaxy smartphones offer a slew of other features that appeal to public safety. The devices are IP68-rated, meaning they can withstand dust, dirt and sand and are resistant to submersion up to a maximum depth of 1.5 meters underwater for up to 30 minutes. They are capable of delivering high-speed data such as high-resolution digital images, video and GPS data to public safety users, providing the ideal solution platform for partners such as Visual Labs.

“Mobile technology plays an integral role in ensuring the safety of our communities and the first responders who protect them,” said Taher Behbehani, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Samsung for Business. “Our team at Samsung is proud to pioneer smartphone innovations, such as adding the FirstNet Band 14 spectrum in all flagship devices and ultra wide field of view and low light aperture cameras, that allow first responders to communicate more efficiently and take action the moment they’re needed. With Samsung’s mobile-first innovations, public safety officials – like the Kit Carson County Sheriff’s Office – can focus on what matters most: keeping communities safe.”

For more information on Samsung’s public safety solutions please visit: https://www.samsung.com/us/business/solutions/industries/public-safety/

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