In a world where police fleet managers are often hesitant to install even a single telematics device on their vehicles, Leon County, Florida, Sheriff’s Office Fleet Management Division Director Tim Coxwell puts three on each of his deputy’s vehicles. You read that right.

So why does he do it?

It’s all about having duplicity in reporting, Coxwell told attendees in a session at the 2024 Police Fleet Conference at GFX.

Enhancing Oversight with Telematics Tech

This doesn’t mean every agency needs to install three separate telematics devices from separate suppliers on every vehicle. It simply speaks to their reliability in providing real-world data that can help police fleet managers better know their fleets.

“Do I know where my vehicles are? Are they where they should be? Are they in their zone? Are they driving how they should be? Are they exercising due care?” Coxwell encouraged fleet managers to consider.

This can also reduce litigation risks. Telematics data can be used to help agencies defend against legal claims made by the public by demonstrating fleet drivers’ adherence to policy and road laws.

“This validates their reporting and provides background and credibility to what they do,” Coxwell explained.

Telematics can provide data on incidents such as the fleet driver’s exact GPS location at the time of an incident, the route taken before, during and after, the vehicle’s speed in comparison to the posted speed limit, and more.

In one example, Coxwell shared data from a deputy who was involved in a pursuit. All pursuits are reviewed by a committee. 

Telematics data showed the average speed a deputy reached was 81 mph, with their speed topping out at 130 mph.

This data can be analyzed to determine whether the speed was defendable in court and whether it adhered to department safety policies. 

Finding Opportunities for Driver Training

This data can also help fleet managers identify opportunities for supervisors to better train their officers to make safer decisions.

In one case Coxwell reviewed, a deputy drove 82 mph when responding to a call. While that may not be too crazy on an interstate, this was in a residential area.

“These are houses where people can be backing out of driveways. If somebody pulls out, where's the escape route? Is there enough of a shoulder of the road to recovery? A vehicle driving 82 miles an hour is 120 ft per second,” Coxwell stressed.

This presented a chance for the deputy’s supervisor to challenge the deputy to consider whether they were exercising due care in this instance.

“Coaching driver behavior is just as important as teaching them to wear their vest and wear their seatbelt,” Coxwell said.

He sent the data on the incident to the deputy’s supervisor, who was able to discuss it with them.

“That one conversation with this deputy can save their life down the road.” 

Telematics devices can capture data from every part of a vehicle, even revealing when a driver released the accelerator before a crash. This can analyze the driver’s perception-reaction time, evaluating how long it took them to respond to a threat.

Using specific data like this can show drivers where there are growth opportunities.

Using Real-Time Data Insights for Better Resource Allocation

Route optimization isn’t just for delivery fleets. It’s also a key factor in law enforcement incident response times.

Telematics data can reveal whether an officer’s chosen route slowed down their response. It can also show where other officers were at the time, revealing whether another officer may have been a better choice for responding to a call.

This can also be invaluable when dealing with high-level emergency response.

“How are you able to show where your fleet is dispersed when you have an opportunity that you have to go into an ‘Alpha Bravo’ situation for emergency response to a hurricane or storm damage?” Coxwell asked.

Telematics data can also provide greater insights into vehicle use. When people think of law enforcement officers, they tend to think of old-school high-speed police chases from classic movies. But is that really an accurate picture of how police cars are used on a regular basis?

“One of the things that we learned from deploying this program was that the number of pursuits we had was less than half of 1% of all driving. Everything we do is built off of the idea that the pursuit is a routine occurrence,” Coxwell said.

Eliminating the Concern About Big Brother

Law enforcement officers can show reluctance to telematics, but it’s more than just a tracking tool. 

The technology empowers police fleet managers to make data-driven decisions, providing a level of insight that can save lives, reduce costs, and enhance public trust.

“Telematics isn’t about criticizing the driver — it’s about coaching better, more desirable driving behavior,” Coxwell emphasized.

As agencies face challenges in resource allocation, public accountability, and officer safety, telematics provides a pathway to smarter, safer, and more efficient policing.