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Want to Sell IT to CHP? Here's How

As the chief information officer of the California Highway Patrol, Chief Scott Howland is in charge of planning and implementing technology to improve the effectiveness of all CHP staff. He also finds funding for those needs — all while writing tickets and ensuring highway safety.

As the chief information officer of the California Highway Patrol, Chief Scott Howland is in charge of planning and implementing technology to improve the effectiveness of all CHP staff. He also finds funding for those needs, all while still pulling people over.

“I do not say I am in the business of IT. And when you look at my staff, my staff is not in the business of IT,” Howland said Wednesday at Techwire’s Industry Briefing in Sacramento. “We are all in the business of law enforcement.”

Howland knows how important streamlined and well-maintained IT is to his staff, and he also acknowledged how “lean” his staff is.

“You can imagine, our focus is trying to keep the lights on,” Howland said. “And I don’t have an extra team sitting around saying, ‘Hey, can we get another project?’”

Addressing those in attendance at the briefing -- almost exclusively vendors from the private sector -- Howland spoke of his desire to form partnerships.

"My staff can't do it all," he said. "That's why you guys are so important. It's a really important role that you provide."

In order to sell him technology, Howland said, vendors need to:

— Understand the department’s capabilities

— Bring resources and training

— Offer a specific solution to a problem

— Increase efficiency and effectiveness

— Not "rip and replace" 

— Act as a partner, not a sale

— Include lessons learned and best practices

— Provide resources to implement

— Provide a short time-to-value ramp-up 

— Offer vendor support

— Understand state procurement practices

“The bottom line, as we look at the future, is about giving my folks the tools they need to get the job done. And tools to make their job more effective and more efficient,” Howland said.

According to Howland, the future of CHP technology includes removing limitations of routing 911 calls; replacing legacy radio consoles; modernizing radar systems; implementing interchangeable tech for vehicles; process automation; electronic data gathering; cybersecurity; migrating to the cloud; radio over IP technology; and tablets for patrol cars.

 

Kayla Nick-Kearney was a staff writer for Techwire from March 2017 through January 2019.