06 Mar 2026
GETAC CASE STUDY
Wichita Police Department Improves Mobile Patrol Operations with Getac B360 Fully Rugged Laptops
Rugged mobile computing that enables the Wichita Police Department to access real-time public safety data, dispatch systems, and investigative tools directly from patrol vehicles and the field.
Summary
The Wichita Police Department deployed the Getac B360 fully rugged laptop to improve mobile patrol computing, enable real-time access to public safety systems, and increase device reliability across field operations.
Customer: Wichita Police Department
Industry: Public Safety Law Enforcement
Solution: Getac B360 Fully Rugged Laptop
Primary Use Case: Mobile patrol computing and real-time access to public safety systems
Key Result: Improved device reliability, reduced IT support calls, and faster access to operational data
The Getac B360 provides officers with reliable access to dispatch systems, records management platforms, and investigative tools directly from patrol vehicles and field environments.
Law Enforcement Use Case
The Wichita Police Department relies on rugged mobile computing to support patrol operations and real-time access to public safety systems. Officers must securely access dispatch systems, investigative databases, and reporting tools while operating in patrol vehicles and throughout the community.
By deploying the Getac B360 fully rugged laptop, officers can access Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD), Records Management Systems (RMS), automated license plate recognition databases, and body-worn camera systems directly from the field. This enables faster reporting, improved situational awareness, and more informed decision-making during active incidents.
Key Outcomes
- Improved reliability of mobile computing systems used in patrol vehicles.
- Reduced IT support calls caused by hardware failures and device reliability issues.
- Enabled officers to remove laptops from vehicles and work directly in the field.
- Provided faster access to real-time operational data and public safety systems.
- Improved situational awareness and decision-making through integration with technologies such as gunshot detection systems, automated license plate recognition, drones, and body-worn cameras.
Overview
The Wichita Police Department serves the City of Wichita, the largest city in Kansas, supporting public safety operations across more than 166 square miles and a population of nearly 400,991 residents. Officers respond to a wide range of mission-critical activities including patrol operations, traffic enforcement, emergency response, and community engagement. Reliable mobile computing is essential for enabling officers to access operational systems, complete reporting, and maintain situational awareness while operating in the field.
The City of Wichita approaches technology investments with a focus on operational outcomes and long-term reliability. Through a centralized IT strategy, the city maintains a standardized and secure technology environment that supports public safety operations while enabling officers to access real-time information when responding to incidents across the city.
Within this environment, the Getac B360 fully rugged laptop provides officers with reliable access to mission-critical systems in demanding patrol environments.
Challenge
The Wichita Police Department required a reliable mobile computing platform capable of supporting modern digital policing workflows across patrol vehicles and field operations.
- Mobile devices must withstand constant vehicle vibration and demanding field conditions
- Officers require uninterrupted access to real-time public safety systems and data
- Previous computing systems experienced reliability issues that increased support tickets and vehicle downtime
- Devices needed to support data-intensive applications such as CAD, RMS, ALPR, drones, gunshot detection systems, and body-worn cameras
With the department transitioning to a fully digital records management workflow, reliable mobile computing became essential to ensure officers could access mission-critical systems and complete reporting directly from the field.
Solution
The Wichita Police Department selected the Getac B360 fully rugged laptop as a core component of its mobile technology strategy after conducting extensive field evaluations across multiple patrol stations. Officers tested several vendor solutions under real operational conditions, and the B360 emerged as the strongest overall option based on durability, performance, and compatibility with existing systems.
- Fully rugged design built to withstand vehicle vibration, harsh environments, and long patrol shifts
- Reliable access to mission-critical systems including Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) and Records Management Systems (RMS)
- Seamless integration with existing vehicle mounts, eliminating the need for costly bracket replacements
- Support for data-intensive public safety technologies including gunshot detection systems, automated license plate recognition, drones, and body-worn cameras
Today, the Getac B360 serves as the gateway to the department’s public safety technology ecosystem, enabling officers to access real-time intelligence, complete incident reporting, and maintain situational awareness directly from patrol vehicles or the field.
Results
The deployment of the Getac B360 has strengthened the Wichita Police Department’s mobile technology environment and improved the department’s ability to operate efficiently in the field. Officers now have reliable access to mission-critical systems and real-time information while performing patrol duties across the city.
- Reduced IT support calls caused by hardware reliability issues
- Improved device durability and performance in patrol vehicle environments
- Enabled officers to remove devices from vehicles and work directly in the field
- Faster access to real-time data and situational intelligence
- Improved integration with technologies such as drones, gunshot detection systems, automated license plate recognition, and body-worn cameras
Operational Reliability in Patrol Environments
The Wichita Police Department operates in demanding patrol environments where mobile computing devices must withstand constant vehicle vibration, extended shifts, and frequent handling by officers in the field. Reliable technology is critical to ensure officers can access dispatch systems, investigative databases, and reporting tools without interruption.
After deploying the Getac B360 fully rugged laptop, the department experienced a significant reduction in hardware-related support calls and device reliability issues. Officers now regularly remove the laptops from patrol vehicles for field use, allowing them to complete reporting and access critical information wherever incidents occur.
This reliability allows officers to maintain continuous access to mission-critical systems, improving situational awareness and enabling faster, more informed decision-making during active incidents.
Expert Insight
“Anytime you have a device that is more reliable, it makes it easier to manage. Even with officers pulling them in and out, which we weren’t doing with the other ones, we still have fewer calls. That’s a significant benefit from multiple views.”
Mike Mayta
IT Director
City of Wichita
The Wichita Police Department experienced a noticeable reduction in support calls after deploying the Getac B360 fully rugged laptops. Improved device reliability allows officers to focus on patrol operations and public safety responsibilities rather than dealing with technology disruptions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What problem did the Wichita Police Department need to solve?
The Wichita Police Department needed a reliable mobile computing platform that could support modern digital policing workflows in patrol vehicles and field environments. Officers required uninterrupted access to dispatch systems, investigative databases, and reporting tools while responding to incidents across the city.
What Getac solution was deployed?
The department deployed the Getac B360 fully rugged laptop as part of its mobile technology strategy. The B360 provides durable, secure mobile computing designed to withstand the demanding conditions of patrol vehicle environments.
Why did the Wichita Police Department choose the Getac B360?
After conducting operational testing across multiple patrol stations, the department selected the Getac B360 because of its rugged durability, reliable performance, and compatibility with existing vehicle mounts. These factors allowed the department to deploy the devices efficiently without replacing existing mounting infrastructure.
How do rugged laptops improve law enforcement patrol operations?
Rugged laptops enable officers to access mission-critical systems such as Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD), Records Management Systems (RMS), and investigative databases directly from patrol vehicles or the field. This improves situational awareness and allows officers to complete reporting and access intelligence without returning to the station.
What operational improvements did the Wichita Police Department experience?
Following deployment of the Getac B360, the department experienced improved device reliability and a reduction in hardware-related support calls. Officers also gained the ability to remove laptops from patrol vehicles and complete work directly in the field.
Which organizations can benefit from a similar rugged mobile computing solution?
Law enforcement agencies, public safety organizations, and other field-based government departments can benefit from rugged mobile computing platforms like the Getac B360. These solutions support reliable access to operational systems in demanding environments where traditional laptops often fail.
Download the Full Case Study
Learn how the Wichita Police Department strengthened patrol operations and improved access to real-time public safety data by deploying the Getac B360 fully rugged laptop. Download the complete case study to explore how rugged mobile computing supports reliable law enforcement operations in demanding patrol environments.
Learn More About The Getac B360
GETAC B360
Designed for demanding field environments, the Getac B360 fully rugged laptop delivers powerful performance, reliable connectivity, and durability for mission-critical operations. With advanced Intel® Core™ processing, hot-swappable batteries, and a sunlight-readable display, the B360 enables professionals to access real-time data and stay productive in patrol vehicles, industrial sites, and other challenging work environments.
