Oregon Becomes Fifth US Police Agency to Select Niche RMS

SALEM, OR, Sept. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ - Oregon State Police (OSP) has selected Niche Technology to provide its new Records Management System (RMS), becoming the fifth US agency to do so.

Oregon State Police joins Springfield, Missouri Police Department, Missouri State Highway Patrol, the US Department of the Interior, and Alaska's Department of Public Safety in adopting the world's leading police information management system.

"It's time for Oregon State Police to enjoy the benefits of technology that has been available for many years, helping to improve officer safety and investigations while making significant improvements to our business procedures," says OSP Superintendent Chris Brown.

Over 700 sworn state troopers will use the system, and all sworn and essential non-sworn OSP employees will receive extensive training in the Niche RMS.

The new Niche system is part of a series of OSP technology and business transformations falling under the agency's "Integrated Business Operations and Technology Transformation" (IBOTT) Program. Key team members supporting the Niche project include Chief Information Officer Albert Gauthier and Committee Chair Major Maureen Bedell.

"When thinking about how technological advancements have changed the way we work, we can envision exciting improvements that will make us a better organization and public safety partner," says Major Bedell.

OSP intends to exploit all aspects of the Niche RMS system, especially data analysis, reporting and intelligence management and anticipates go-live by September 2012. Benefits OSP expects to see from the new system include safer and better informed troopers as well as more secure and reliable information systems.

"We are very pleased to be selected by Oregon State Police to supply their new RMS" says John James Niche's Business Development Director. "They had a very clear idea of what they needed and had undertaken extensive due diligence to select a partner for the future. It is always rewarding to be selected in a process which has been rigorous and demanding of suppliers and we are already working with OSP to meet their 2012 go live date."

The system will streamline the flow of information throughout the department and allow it to connect to other public safety information systems. For instance, dispatch centers will have quicker access to information, with the ability to exchange information within the system and other agency systems. Niche RMS will also enhance the capability of the newly formed Central Records Section that recently consolidated staff and processes from major divisions into a section dedicated to managing law enforcement records.

Covering an area of 98,000 square miles, the State of Oregon has a population of just over 3.8 million, a 12% increase since 2000 (projected to increase 41 percent to over 4.8 million by 2030). OSP General Headquarters is located in the state's capital, Salem. The state's largest city and the 30th largest U.S. city, Portland, is the most populous with a population of 582,130. Over 2.2 million people live in the metropolitan area.

The Oregon State Police is a full-service public safety agency providing diverse services to the citizens of Oregon. The mission of more than 700 sworn troopers, with the assistance of nearly 500 non-sworn staff employees, is to enhance livability and safety by protecting the people, property, and natural resources of their state through the enforcement of Oregon's laws and the assistance to local law enforcement agencies.

About Niche Technology and Niche RMS:
Niche Technology is a privately owned company incorporated in Canada and the UK, specializing in law enforcement software. Niche Records Management System (Niche RMS) is used by more than 75,000 sworn officers worldwide, and current implementation projects will see that number rise to nearly 100,000. The system is being used to create efficiencies and improve performance across a range of operational policing functions. Niche RMS is currently used by over 50% of Canadian police officers; 27% of UK police officers in 12 forces; 20% of Australia's police officers and is now in production use in the US. 8 of the 25 largest police services in the English-speaking world have selected Niche RMS as their core operational police system. For more information, go to www.nicherms.com

SOURCE Niche Technology