Street-level crime is down significantly in Schenectady, NY, as officers implement the groundbreaking software tool, Patrolfinder, to improve patrol coverage.
The Schenectady Police Department (SPD) and software firm Transfinder Corporation unveiled these results during their presentation at the Division of Criminal Justice Services Public Safety Symposium in September.
During SPD’s presentation, Chief Eric Clifford and several officers noted that the patented solution, Patrolfinder, is already transforming how officers serve the community. The presentation, led by Chief Clifford and Transfinder CEO Antonio Civitella, showcased the nine year journey of innovation, collaboration and data-driven policing.
It’s showing results, said SPD Analyst Director Matthew Douglas, who provided the presentation’s grand finale with data illustrating Patrolfinder’s impact.
Compared to a five year average, Schenectady has seen:
- 46% reduction in motor vehicle thefts;
- 25% decline in traffic crashes;
- 16% decrease in robberies;
- 12% fewer confirmed shots fired; and
- 8% drop in burglaries
Police Visibility
Chief Clifford opened the session by reflecting on days in 2016 when he was in the running to become chief, when he was seeking community feedback which revealed a troubling gap in police visibility for nonemergency issues.
“We were really good at responding to hot calls,” Clifford said. “Matter of fact, if it’s a Priority 1 hot call, you’re going to get 100 cops there. But, for quality-of-life issues, it might sit there for a while. You might get into an auto accident with no injuries and you might sit there for an hour.”
At the same time, he felt the department was facing a “perfect storm,” with rising call volumes driven by mental health crises, opioid-related incidents and absentee landlords, Clifford sought a solution which would help officers better manage their time and coverage. On top of that, cell phone use increased so it was easier to call or text the police department.
He turned to tech entrepreneur Antonio Civitella, whose company, Transfinder, had already revolutionized school bus logistics across New York state, as well as North America. Civitella knew GIS, mapping and logistics. Clifford wanted to know if Civitella’s company could build something to improve police patrols.
That was the beginning of what became Patrolfinder.
Civitella, whose software powers transportation systems nationwide, embraced the challenge of entering a new market.
“Remember your dad saying, ‘Stick at what you’re good at?’” Civitella joked. But, when Chief Clifford came to him, he saw an opportunity to make an impact in his backyard.
“If you’re going to be successful, you’d better be successful in your backyard because you’re going to see those individuals at your convenience stores,” Civitella said.
Tracking Where Police Were Not Going
Patrolfinder’s core innovation lies in its ability to visualize patrol coverage in real time. Officers can see which areas have been recently patrolled and which have been neglected, allowing them to adjust routes and ensure equitable service across neighborhoods.
“That really was our big aha moment,” he said, when he realized the need to track not just where officers were going – but where they weren’t. That insight changed everything.
The software integrates GPS data, CAD (Computer-Aided Dispatch), and real-time analytics to create a dynamic map interface accessible from patrol cars and mobile devices. Officers can view hotspots, pending calls and community-reported concerns, all layered onto a familiar map interface.
Lt. Michael McLaughlin, who oversees SPD’s technology operations, emphasized the tool’s impact on communication and officer morale.
From Scattered Information to Real-time Updates
“I remember how much of a challenge it was to try and synthesize all the information,” McLaughlin said. There was a need to “fix a communication problem in law enforcement.” That included the dreaded “telephone game” where information isn’t transferred accurately.
Before Patrolfinder, information was scattered and often incomplete. For example, an officer is sent to a location to help someone in the neighborhood.
“Then they’re discouraged because the information was so watered down that really the target of the information isn’t accurate to the general area or it’s just too confusing to figure it out,” McLaughlin said.
That’s all changed with the adoption of Patrolfinder.
“Now, we can put information graphically in front of somebody and get it in their car as they’re approaching the area. It’s as if that lineup briefing is occurring five seconds before they get there.”
McLaughlin also highlighted the system’s ability to track “dosage” – the amount of time officers spend in specific areas – providing a more accurate measure of patrol effectiveness than a simple drive-by.
“There’s a big difference between me driving down the road at 35 miles per hour or 25 miles per hour, because that’s our city speed limit now, and going and actually parking there for 15 minutes and actually doing some semblance of a patrol.”
Patrolfinder helps SPD measure that impact.
Sgt. Pete Montalto, the initial project manager for Patrolfinder, led officer training and feedback sessions, helping refine how the department used the solution to meet real-world needs. One key feature is the ability to add “attention points” based on community input, even if no formal call was made.
“If a neighborhood association reports loud noise or loitering, we can put that on the map,” he said. “The officer now knows there’s a problem from the neighborhood that reported it.”
The officer can then check on it – even without a dispatch.
“We don’t need a police call to make that happen,” Montalto said.
Patrolfinder Brings a Culture Shift
SPD Analyst Douglas Patrolfinder has changed the way the department gathers, and then acts, on data.
“I’ve got to tell you, in the 19 years that I’ve been there, the way we used to do things with creating static reports and hot spot policing is definitely of the past,” he said. “We’ve not been able to use this data specifically with Patrolfinder to make it accurate and timely and accessible to the guys on patrol, as well as command staff and the supervisors.”
Having data in the right people’s hands in a timely manner so that it can be acted upon is what he’s wanted his whole career.
“It’s something that I’ve always wanted when I was early on in the analytical field,” McLaughlin said. “Seeing that come into play is something that I was always hoping that I would see. And I’m seeing it now.”
He said the results have been impressive.
“We’re seeing not only the outputs that we intended to put in place, the implementation is working,” he said. “But, now we’re actually starting to see the outcomes that we wanted to…something that we always dreamed of.”
Douglas praised the system’s ability to break down data silos and empower both patrol officers and command staff with actionable insights.
The culture has changed, he said. “I now hear hot spots and patrolling every day in hallway conversations. It’s something that’s definitely changing policing in itself.”
Patrolfinder’s Civitella said the issues Schenectady faced aren’t unique to this one department. Patrolfinder is changing how policing is done in communities across the country.
“Is this just unique to Schenectady,” Civitella rhetorically asked about Schenectady’s issues. “A majority of the organizations across the country really couldn’t tell you where they’ve been.”
To learn more about Patrolfinder, visit Patrolfinder.com, email getpatrolfinder@transfinder.com or call 800-373-3609.