old school

[LasVegasOG]

So a question I have.. back in the day before laptops and all How did officers guide themselves to calls? I mean no body can know every exact street? maybe some of you guys can answer this for me

[K9Gunner]

Maps. Our city is sectioned into grid sectors, even though there are only 8 in the city, it gets you in the area. I can only speak for small cities, I dont know how the big cities did it way back when. That was before my time. You will have to ask one of the old farts like retdetsgt or DC LOL!!!!

[ChesCopPodz]

We just got computers within the last year. Before that we got these big map books. I still keep mine in my car.

[Old Trooper]

Maps....maps....maps!

[mach_4]

Lots of maps.

[TPDHellhound]

Maps and Hundred-blocks...

... because those computers crash sometimes too. :D

[mcsap]

You just LEARNED your streets , used maps or called dispatch and asked " give me a cross street for _______________.

We also had to call ALL license plate/drivers license/warrant checks by radio.

Didn't have any cell phone, had to stop at a pay phone to call dispatch.

Only had 3 channel radios.

Worked by yourself on the street prior to going to the academy.

[corporal716]

We had a map book. You looked up the name of the street and the book told you the page and grid number. If it was an emergency call the dispatcher would look it up and guid you in. After spending 10 hours a day driving around you learned most of the streets and roads after awhile.

[Kimble]

Let me define what a "map" is for our new-school readers. To many of you younger readers, you may hear the word "map" and assume one is talking about mapquest.com, or some other website that give directions for finding locations. While it may seem like the practices of an ancient culture to you, in the not-too-distant past there were maps made out of paper (i.e. not on a computer). These maps on paper used illustrations of streets, addresses, and major location spots to help travelers identify the best route for finding their destination. So, now you're probably asking, "but how did they know where to go if they didn't have to type in their starting location and final destination?" It took a basic knowledge of the streets, addresses and major location spots in your area, as well as those in the area of the final destination, then one would simply trace their way via the roads illustrated on the map to find out what was the best way to get there. It is believed by some scholars that there are still, in remote areas of the world, people who still use paper maps to find travel destinations.

[Wombat311]

Good answers from every one else, but here's one they haven't mentioned.

Maps.

:D


When they give the job to us (we still don't have the on screen maps that guide us to jobs) they give a reference for our Big Book of Maps that coincides with exactly where we need to be.
Our map book is called a Melways.

Also, once you've been in an area long enough you pretty much know where EVERY street in your response zone is and odn't need the map. Except when you help units in other response zones of course.

[Oldbillplod]

I used to find my ways to locations by looking at the stars.

[Kimble]

Good answers from every one else, but here's one they haven't mentioned.

Maps.

:D

I'd rep you for that remark if I didn't need to spread it some more. Too funny!

[MCCO]

A question along the lines of data consoles (Lap Tops)

Do you all have internet access (Like a wireless connection?) or is the data tied into your radio system. (Most are and simply have med speed data capacity).

[MOCOP]

We still use Maps :eek: No lap tops unless you buy it and the soft ware.

I know we're still in the dark ages. :D

[LasVegasOG]

thats crazy. I was just asking cause everything is sooo easy now a days. Here in the city of henderson the lap top shows a dot of where you are at and a redline to where your destination should be, tells you whats streets to follow and all!