About CAD Data
Washington State Data Exchange for Public Safety
WADEPS is committed to providing a comprehensive and transparent view of use-of-force incidents across the state. Integrating computer-aided dispatch (CAD) data for all calls for service is one way to provide critical context for understanding how, when, and why force is used.
This page explains how incident-based CAD data enhances the accuracy and value of the information in WADEPS.
This page explains how incident-based CAD data enhances the accuracy and value of the information in WADEPS.
What is CAD data?
CAD stands for computer-aided dispatch and refers to both the process and the computer software that many public safety agencies use to effectively and efficiently respond to calls for service.
When an officer is dispatched, regardless of whether it’s a 9-1-1 call or an officer-initiated activity, this emergency response software automatically generates and/or logs details about the incident: the time, location, reason for the call, and which agency is responding are just a few of the data fields.
When an officer is dispatched, regardless of whether it’s a 9-1-1 call or an officer-initiated activity, this emergency response software automatically generates and/or logs details about the incident: the time, location, reason for the call, and which agency is responding are just a few of the data fields.
What CAD data is shared with WADEPS?
Agencies will provide a limited set of CAD data points for all calls for service:
- Incident Number
Tracks unique incidents for analysis and cross-referencing. - Agency Unique Identifier
Allows for comparisons of incident patterns across different agencies. - Record Creation
Provides timestamps for analyzing incident trends over time. - Original Call Type
Helps us understand whether certain call types are associated with higher use of force. - Location (City)
Enables identification of high-risk locations and potential disparities in policing across different communities.
With these data points, WADEPS will be able provide a more precise and complete understanding of when and why police use force. For example, analyzing CAD data can reveal whether specific types of calls are more likely to result in a use-of-force incident, or happen more often in certain places or at certain times.
How is CAD shared?
Eliminating duplicative manual data entry and reducing administrative burden are key goals of the WADEPS platform.
CAD data can be systematically exported from emergency management systems and ingested into the WADEPS data lake, reducing both manual data entry and the potential for human error or bias in reporting, and ensuring a seamless and efficient flow of information. It also helps ensure the data held by WADEPS accurately mirrors the records of individual departments.
CAD data can be systematically exported from emergency management systems and ingested into the WADEPS data lake, reducing both manual data entry and the potential for human error or bias in reporting, and ensuring a seamless and efficient flow of information. It also helps ensure the data held by WADEPS accurately mirrors the records of individual departments.
Accurate CAD Data Matters
CAD systems automatically record calls for service, providing valuable information
about the frequency and nature of interactions between law enforcement and the public.
CAD data can help us understand factors that may contribute to use-of-force incidents by:
Identifying
trends
Reveals patterns in call types and other factors, which can highlight potential risk factors for use-of-force incidents.Improving
accountability
Provides an objective record of events, increasing transparency and enabling thorough investigations of use-of-force incidents. Informing
policy
Supports data-driven policy decisions regarding the use of force, de-escalation training, and resource allocation statewide.
Transparency and Privacy
WADEPS is committed to using CAD data responsibly and ethically. We prioritize data security and adhere to strict privacy protocols to protect sensitive information.
WADEPS strives to promote transparency, accountability, and community trust by combining comprehensive use-of-force data with valuable insights from CAD records. This data-driven approach will help us understand the factors contributing to the use of force within a framework that helps identify what is working and where.
WADEPS strives to promote transparency, accountability, and community trust by combining comprehensive use-of-force data with valuable insights from CAD records. This data-driven approach will help us understand the factors contributing to the use of force within a framework that helps identify what is working and where.