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Police Utilities application icon

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Police Utilities

The Police Utilities app is a centralized collection of commonly used department tools built directly into the police laptop. Previously, these functions were spread across disconnected commands and menus. The new application places them into one consistent interface, making department operations easier to understand and reducing unnecessary command usage.
Police Utilities laptop application
Available utilities and actions may depend on the officer’s rank, certifications, assignment, or department permissions.

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Available Utilities

The VIN Lookup tool allows officers to inspect a vehicle’s identification number and compare it against the vehicle’s registered information.The lookup may help identify:
  • Vehicles displaying an incorrect license plate
  • Stolen vehicles using cloned or switched plates
  • Vehicles with altered identification
  • Boosted vehicles with scratched VINs
  • Registration information that does not match the physical vehicle

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How to Use It

  1. Open the VIN Lookup utility.
  2. Inspect or enter the vehicle’s identification information.
  3. Allow the system to compare the VIN with state registration records.
  4. Review whether the VIN and displayed license plate match.
  5. Document any discrepancy in the appropriate incident or investigative report.
A normal result indicates that the VIN corresponds with the vehicle’s registered plate and record.A failed or mismatched result may indicate that the vehicle was stolen, boosted, altered, or assigned a fraudulent plate.
A mismatched VIN is an investigative lead. Officers should document the result and consider the totality of the circumstances before taking enforcement action.
Identity Verification performs a forensic database check against the citizen profile presented to an officer.This tool is intended to help determine whether an identity:
  • Exists within legitimate state records
  • Matches an authentic MDT citizen profile
  • Contains inconsistent or fraudulent information
  • Has been created as a false identity
  • Requires additional investigation

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How to Use It

  1. Open Identity Verification.
  2. Enter the person’s Citizen ID or State ID.
  3. Submit the information for analysis.
  4. Review the returned verification result.
  5. Document any flagged identity in the associated report.
A verified result indicates that the provided identity corresponds with a legitimate state record.A flagged result indicates that the profile may be fraudulent and should be investigated further.
Identity Verification checks the validity of the profile itself. It does not automatically determine whether the person presenting that identity is its lawful owner.
License Management allows authorized personnel to grant or revoke state-issued licenses.Depending on department configuration, manageable licenses may include:
  • Driver licenses
  • Commercial driving licenses
  • Weapon licenses
  • Pilot licenses
  • Other state-issued authorizations

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Granting a License

A license should only be granted when the citizen has:
  • Completed the required training or examination
  • Paid any applicable fees
  • Met the legal eligibility requirements
  • Received approval from the appropriate authority

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Revoking a License

A license may be revoked when authorized by:
  • Applicable criminal charges
  • Court order
  • Department policy
  • License suspension or revocation procedures
  • Another approved legal action
Officers should confirm the citizen’s identity and select the correct license before submitting any change.
License changes affect a citizen’s official state record. Never grant, revoke, or modify a license as a test or without proper authorization.
The Certifications utility allows authorized supervisors and instructors to manage qualifications assigned to individual officers.Certifications may unlock:
  • Specialized equipment
  • Department weapons
  • Vehicles or aircraft
  • Specialized divisions
  • Additional laptop utilities
  • Restricted operational capabilities

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Managing a Certification

  1. Open the Certifications utility.
  2. Enter or select the officer being managed.
  3. Confirm the officer’s identity.
  4. Select the applicable certification.
  5. Grant or revoke the certification.
  6. Confirm that the change was applied correctly.
Certifications should only be granted after the officer completes all required training, examinations, or evaluations.Certifications may be revoked following expiration, retraining requirements, department discipline, misuse, or removal from the associated assignment.
Receiving a certification does not automatically place an officer into a specialized division. Division assignments and equipment authorization remain subject to department policy.
Callsign Management allows officers to maintain the callsign displayed throughout department systems.An officer’s callsign may appear within:
  • Dispatch
  • The department roster
  • MDT records
  • Unit assignments
  • Active emergency calls
  • Other police applications

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Selecting a Callsign

  1. Open the Callsign utility.
  2. Enter the callsign assigned to you.
  3. Confirm that it follows the department callsign structure.
  4. Submit the change.
  5. Verify that the correct callsign appears in dispatch and department systems.
Officers may only use their assigned callsign. Do not use another officer’s callsign or create an unauthorized designation.If a duplicate or incorrect callsign appears, contact a supervisor before continuing patrol.
The Quick Report utility allows officers to record short notes and reports without creating a complete MDT incident.Submitted reports are exported to the department’s Discord archive for future reference.Quick Reports are useful for:
  • Field observations
  • Intelligence notes
  • Suspicious activity
  • Brief citizen contacts
  • Vehicle information
  • Training notes
  • Minor departmental documentation
  • Information that may become relevant later

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Writing a Quick Report

Include as much of the following information as possible:
  • Date and approximate time
  • Officer name and callsign
  • Involved citizen or vehicle
  • Relevant location
  • Clear description of what occurred
  • Reason the information may be important
  • Any related report, incident, or case number
Write the report so that another officer can understand what happened without needing to contact you for basic context.

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When Not to Use a Quick Report

A Quick Report should not replace a formal MDT incident when the situation involves:
  • An arrest
  • Criminal charges
  • Seized evidence
  • A search warrant
  • A major use of force
  • A significant investigation
  • Documentation otherwise required by department policy
In those situations, create the appropriate MDT incident or full report.

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General Workflow

Most Police Utilities follow the same basic process:
1

Open the Police Laptop

Access the department laptop while on duty and open the Police Utilities application.
2

Select a Utility

Choose the appropriate tool for the action you need to complete.
3

Verify the Information

Confirm the citizen, officer, vehicle, license, certification, or callsign before submitting the request.
4

Complete the Action

Enter all required information and submit the request.
5

Confirm the Result

Review the returned message and verify that the requested action completed successfully.
6

Document When Required

Record significant findings or changes in the appropriate MDT incident, report, or Quick Report.

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Troubleshooting