Streamlining police department operations with electronic key management

Located in Wylie, Texas, the law enforcement agency has a tight-knit team of just 67 officers and 21 patrol vehicles. Understanding the importance of utilizing new technologies to maximize limited resources, the department chose Traka to help efficiently and effectively manage its key inventory.

Dealing with unlabelled keys, a lack of accountability, and no audit of key activity led the Wylie Police Department to seek out a technological solution to control and track access to sensitive resources.

Daily challenges

Wylie Police Department was using the old-fashioned peg board method of managing keys for vehicles, offices, jail facilities, and other critical areas within the department, with very little accountability for staff.

The system identified the keys using labels, which would often fall off and make it difficult to determine which key belonged where. The process also meant identifying who removed or used a key was unknown and untraceable.

The antiquated process left the department, its people, and its assets vulnerable to security risks. And not always knowing where keys were and what they unlocked wasted valuable time and resources, which could be better spent serving the Wylie community.

Bryce Thompson, Jail Manager said:

“My main concern is knowing where the keys are, to make sure they’re secure, and to know who has them or if one is lost.”

The solution

By implementing Traka’s intelligent key management system, the Wylie Police Department has successfully overcome its key management challenges and ushered in a new era of efficiency and security.

The outdated peg board system has been replaced with the Traka Touch Pro S key cabinet and TrakaWEB software solution for controlled, automated, and audited access to keys throughout the facility, bolstering security and accountability.

The solution now enforces the department’s key return procedures while offering increased visibility and detailed reporting for all key activities.

Officers can quickly identify and locate keys in the system and easily see who possesses a key that has been removed.
TrakaWEB’s centralized monitoring offers real-time tracking of key access and insights into the status of fleet vehicles.
Custom build options inside the key cabinet allow for optimized spacing to accommodate larger key sets for the jail.

The results

The Wylie Police Department experienced a transformation in its process of managing keys, quickly overcoming the inefficiencies and risks of the prior manual process.

The streamlined process for accessing, monitoring, and tracking keys practically eliminated the downtime officers previously experienced trying to track down keys.

Having total accountability in their key control process has fostered more efficient and responsible key usage while improving security for the department’s facilities, vehicles, and sensitive areas.

Conclusion

Traka's solution has revolutionized key management for the Wylie Police Department, enhancing efficiency and security while addressing longstanding challenges.

By replacing outdated methods with our intelligent system, the department now enjoys streamlined processes, enhanced accountability, and improved security measures.

With Traka, they have gained invaluable insights and control over their key inventory, ensuring seamless operations and safeguarding their community with confidence.