LAPD purchases advanced electronic translators for crowd control application
Voxtec Inc. Phraselators to be used by LAPD for crowd control and rescue missions
Annapolis, MD– LAPD purchased the Phraselator P2 device and Module Builder Pro software from Voxtec International, Inc. to provide its officers with powerful one-way, machine-based translation capabilities.
“With more than 260 languages spoken in the Los Angeles area, a human translator can’t be present in every situation requiring communication with someone with limited English proficiency,” said LAPD Sergeant Eric Lee. “While the Phraselators do not replace a human translator, these devices can be a lifesaver.”
The more we use the Phraselators, the more we identify additional situations where they can improve our communication and overall level of service.
The purchases exemplify the Department’s proactive efforts to improve its management of crowd control situations. Last May, language and communication breakdowns between officers and civilians after a demonstration in the city’s MacArthur Park resulted in dozens of injuries. As part of its improved crowd control procedures, the Department has also purchased all-terrain vehicles equipped with MAD™ full-range speakers to broadcast translated phrases from its Phraselators in dozens of languages.
“Restoring order in chaotic situations requires carefully-worded communication that can be understood by everyone within earshot,” said Sergeant Lee. “When attached to MAD technology, we can program the Phraselators to project phrases such as ‘We are here to facilitate your First Amendment rights’, repeated in several languages, up to half a mile away.”
The purchase agreement was facilitated by Voxtec’s distributor, Aardvark Tactical, Inc. (ATI). Azusa, CA-based ATI is one of the largest suppliers of nonlethal weapons, riot control, force protection, and tactical equipment in the United States.
“Voxtec products have successfully supported the critical communication needs of our military customers serving overseas for several years now,” said ATI President Jon Becker. “Not every product can transition from military application to law enforcement integration, but Voxtec’s can. We are excited about distributing Voxtec’s products and services domestically within the law enforcement community.”
In addition to purchasing the Phraselators, the LAPD also purchased Voxtec’s Module Builder PRO software, which will allow the Department to create its own set of customized phrases using trusted human translators and install them on the Phraselator devices. LAPD representatives said the Department will use the software to expand its library of crowd control phrases, as well as for situations such as prison inmate procedures, field sobriety test administration and routine traffic stops.
“The power to customize the devices ourselves is a very important feature,” said Sergeant Lee. “The more we use the Phraselators, the more we identify additional situations where they can improve our communication and overall level of service.”
LAPD Deputy Chief Mike Hillmann noted that the Phraselators have already demonstrated their value to the Department.
“The ability for public safety agencies to communicate with various cultures is critical,” said Hillmann. “The Phraselator has been useful in assisting with crowd management operations.”
John T. Hall, President of Voxtec, said the LAPD’s use of the Phraselator translation devices and Module Builder PRO software signifies a growing trend of law enforcement departments taking action to improve communication with non English-speaking citizens.
“Immigration has brought together a vast number of languages and cultures across the country,” said Hall. “As law enforcement departments endeavor to effectively serve and protect these diverse communities, they’re recognizing how machine-based translation technology can be a huge help. Voxtec devices have saved lives in crisis situations around the world; we believe they can do the same here in the hands of law enforcement officers.”
November 11th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
This device is pretty much elementary. It is a useless waste of taxpayer’s dollars ! Don’t tell me the Los Angeles Police have a problem speaking SPANISH, as what just aired the media news about the over 72,000 counts of Harboring illegal Mexicans into Los Angeles, Ca from the Mexican Boarder to enslave them as human slaves working as undercover snitches and rats who tell one you while the Los Angeles Police Divisions plus the major Currupted Courthouse Subdivision in Van Nuys, Ca Location one used illegal Mexicans in UnderCover Sting Operations as their rats , to entrap Business Owners when the Business Owners such as (present sting) Contractors hiring laborers and illegal mexican cheap labor i.e. Home Depot Parking Lot Labor Workers in Van Nuys, Ca. 91406 and some other 105 locations around the Los Angeles City area. The Sheriff’s of Los Angeles County are also directly involved in the corruption of harboring and serving favoritism to illegal Mexicans over any white or American U.S. Legal Citizen who has a right to live in the USA. So you see, when an entire community LOST all respect for the L.A.P.D. after Chief William Bratton Lied to the entire Community in a Press Conference and Admitted to the Los Angeles Times News Paper that he was in fact Harboring illegal Mexicans and Ruining the taxpayer’s Budget by doing to, breaking Los Angeles down with Corruption , Then NO BADDBOY MAFIA OWNER VOTES NO on the LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT to buy this VOXTEC TOY DEVICE of the handheld Speak and Spell since I fell if they could control an entire community with the use of Corruption then they don’t need to use Electronics Devices , gadgets to Pull Crowd CONTROL . Taking thier eyes off of the crowd to text a message is pointless and dangerous in a L.A. Riot instance. Great Device for the Kids to communicate with their New friends who just got into town but not to a Violent Crowd, Don’t you see, the LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO USE THIS DEVICE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR ILLEGAL MEXICANS THEY ARE STILL HARBORING. IT IS A SCAM. VOTE NO ON IT. BAN THEM FROM WASTING OUR TAX DOLLARS ON IT. THE L.A.P.D. IS STILL RUNNING THE CORRUPTION CHIEF WILLIAM BRATTON LEFT AND SET UP FOR THEM, THEY NEED A DEVICE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE ILLEGALS SO THEY CAN PRESSURE THEM AND THREATEN THEM OF DEPORTATION IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGE . LOS ANGELES TIMES NEWS PAPER WROTE A COLUM ON THIS . GOOGLE SEARCH FOR IT. TRUE STUFF. $$$ DO NOT TRUST THE LOS ANGELES POLICE OFFICERS ANYWHERE, THEY HAVE TO RE-EARN IT , THEY MIGHT NEVER . DON’T TRUST THEM. THEY HAVE HURT LOS ANGELES IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE. SO MUCH I KNOW THAN NO ONE DOES, BUT FOR NOW…. TAKE MY WORD FOR IT, DO NOT TRUST L.A.P.D. AT ALL. THEY LIE, AND MAKE UP FALSE POLICE REPORTS TO BUST PEOPLE FOR FALSE CRIMES THAT NEVER HAPPENED BUT THE USE OF ILLEGAL MEXICANS WHO THEY THREATEN TO DEPORT IF THEY DO NOT TESTIFY AGAINST THE SUSPECTS THEY SET UP. PLUS THEY MAKE FAKE VISA AND GREEN CARD FOR THE ILLEGALS TO LIVE HERE FREE AS LONG AS THEY SNITCH FOR THE POLICE. AND KEEP SNITCHING FOR L.A.P.D. THE NEWS PAPER LALAMINATES.COM PROVED IT THREE DAYS AGO. THEY HIDE THEIR RATS ON A WEBSITE CALLED RAT DOT COMM IT GETS WORSE. I WILL BLOG SOME MORE LATER, L.A.P.D. WANTS ME DEAD FOR LEAKING OUT THE TRUTH ON THEM. MY NAME IS SPARKY MIKE I OWN A LICENSED FILM MOTION PICTURE DISTRIBUTION COMPANY CALLED BADDBOY MAFIA. THEY HATE ME SO MUCH , I THINK IT IS FUNNY.