Company Name: Atchison Police Department
Name & Title: Police Chief Mike Wilson
Location: Atchison, KS
Website: CityOfAtchison.com/Departments/Police/
Industry: Public Safety
Forty-six years ago, an eager new officer joined the police force in Atchison, Kansas. He was taught how to interact with community members, identify potentially dangerous situations, and write routine reports for every major event that happened on a daily basis. At the time, Officer Mike Wilson was writing reports by hand, or if he was lucky, he could use a typewriter that was set up in the police department.
Today, the community has grown to 11,000 residents and is supported by 24 police officers. Since it’s only about 45 minutes outside of the Kansas City Metro area, Atchison uniquely combines a small-town feel with big-city amenities and services, the police department included. “I say this sincerely and loudly: I am as excited to come to work now at 6 a.m. as I was 46 years ago,” explained Chief Wilson. However, his passion for the work he does is probably one of the only things that hasn’t changed during his tenure serving the Atchison community.
One of the biggest changes, and probably a transition that many people don’t think about, is the technology stack available to police departments today. As a new officer, Chief Wilson was still looking up case files in filing cabinets and department storage rooms, but now, everything is done on a secure computer network. Through the ’80s, ’90s, and early 2000s, Officer Wilson sat on a board of leaders that supported the centralized communication center used by police officers, other first responders like fire departments, and even city personnel in the area.
Through his decades-long work with the city’s centralized communication center, he collaborated with many IT service providers in the area, and for the final four years, TS Conard was the preferred IT service provider used by the city. It wasn’t until two years ago—when the police department established its own independent network—that Chief Wilson truly understood the value of working with TS Conard, Inc. Technology Solutions.
“Not only are they passionate, but they are our friends, and that’s so important,” said Chief Wilson. In early meetings with Tim Conard, communication was seamless and the pair quickly formed a friendship. Chief Wilson didn’t want impersonal IT support. He needed someone that he knew he could trust as more than a technology guru, and Tim Conard was that person. As a small public safety agency, the Atchison Police Department doesn’t have the resources to hire an internal IT team, but because of the stellar service provided by TS Conard, Chief Wilson says it feels like he has his own IT team.
The department’s IT needs are much more extensive than the needs of most small businesses or organizations in the area. Not only do they need a secure computer network but their dashboard cameras, body cameras, reporting systems, and information databases require constant, secure connections that officers can rely on 24/7. There is no downtime in police work, and those same standards are required by the technology the department uses on a daily basis.
“I’ve had them come into the office at daybreak on a Saturday to help resolve an urgent issue,” admits Chief Wilson. When police systems go down, officers lose their ability to look up information while they’re out in the field making traffic stops, responding to distress calls, and everything in between. In order to do their jobs and keep the community as safe as possible, having relevant information at their fingertips is a foundational requirement. With the support of TS Conard, Chief Wilson and his officers know that they have the best technical support team possible, one that’s willing to resolve issues quickly and always with a smile.
To create a more secure technology infrastructure, TS Conard supported the department’s move to a .gov email setup, implemented the best cybersecurity measures available, and made the record management system more secure. To make matters even more complex, public safety departments around the nation must abide by certain federal and state regulations when it comes to storing data, transmitting information, and handling sensitive personal information. Not only is the team at TS Conard aware of these regulations but they are so up to date with the changing requirements that they are often the “first responders” when it comes to abiding by new tech-related policies that the department needs to consider.
While he’s happy with the results of the police department’s partnership with TS Conard, it’s the process of getting those results that has really blown Chief Wilson away. There’s never been a less-than-excellent interaction with Tim Conard or anyone who represents his organization. In the team at TS Conard, the officers who serve the Atchison community have found an extra layer of support, another network of comrades, and even friends. The two organizations may not be on the same payroll, but it is very apparent that they’re on the same team.
After 18 months of diligent work from Tim Conard and his team, the Atchison Police Department now has a freestanding, secure network that supports all of its technical needs. Making changes, implementing new technologies, and even changing policies can be complex and tedious when it comes to IT, but with the right IT service provider, the investment is worthwhile. “Big companies have their own IT staff that they can yell down the hall to and say, ‘I need help.’ Well guess what? We have our own IT staff too—it’s called TS Conard,” Chief Wilson shared with a grin.
Now, instead of worrying about phishing emails or system downtime, Chief Wilson can focus entirely on engaging community members, addressing safety concerns, and training his officers to be the best of the best. These are all the things he loves about what he does. Although he never let go of being excited to come to work each day, his passion and love for public safety are further renewed. With no intention of retiring anytime soon, only time will tell what future changes Chief Wilson will witness in the world of policing. But for any IT-related changes, TS Conard will be there to light the way.
