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Miller Electric Goes Behind the Scenes with the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office
We recently had the privilege of participating in The Guardian Experience with the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office (SJSO). Miller Project Managers Amanda Goethe and John Tyler, of our Integrated Solutions Group, headed to SJSO’s Tactical Training Facility for a full-day immersive experience and behind-the-scenes look at crime-fighting operations. Let’s explore some of the takeaways and technologies that are so important to the work done by many of our law enforcement teams throughout the country.
A Partnership in Public Safety
For Miller Electric, a partner with SJSO for several years, this experience was a chance not only to aid in crimefighting, but to support our clients and learn more about what they do every day. After spending time in 10 different departments, Tyler said, “We got the opportunity to visit each one of the divisions within SJSO to hear a little about their job. The one thing that stood out was each and every department said they had the best job in the agency, which just showed how much passion each officer has for their job.”
Technology at the Forefront
Inside the Real Time Intelligence Center (RTIC), law enforcement relies on the latest in technology and data to fight crime proactively. SJSO works with Miller Electric on many of these projects, such as their license plate readers (LPRs) as a credential, which Captain Ryan Smith told First Coast News were “the single greatest law enforcement tool” he had ever seen.
We also work with SJSO on their jail access control system with its integration to their programmable logic controller (PLC) controls, as well as their card readers, wireless connections, and camera system. One way RTIC is putting the camera and wireless technology to use is through Connect St. Johns, a public safety program that enables the community to work directly with them to keep their neighborhoods safe. There are currently over 1,200 personal and commercial security cameras registered and nearly 1,000 integrated with the program. This allows law enforcement access to these cameras in the event that a crime is committed in the area.
For Tyler and Amanda, who work on Miller’s security integration technologies, the visit to RTIC was a valuable opportunity to see firsthand some of the real-life impact their hard work has on the community. Tyler said it was “a perfect example of how connecting a community’s security assets in one central place benefits overall public safety.”
Beyond the Tech: Hands-On Training and Immersion
They also got to try out their sharpshooter skills on the gun range in a “Top Shot” competition, where expert trainers provided one-on-one lessons on how to safely and effectively operate a pistol. Using Glocks, they shot at bullseye targets from about 15 feet away. “I scored a 92/100!” Tyler said.
On the driving track, Amanda got the opportunity to perform a PIT (Precision Immobilization Technique) maneuver on Tyler. “Luckily, the trained officers were the ones driving, so everything went smoothly,” he said.
Inside live scenario rooms, they dashed from space to space, testing their real-life decision-making by addressing a different subject within each. “Some of the rooms had a person holding a baby, and others had a person pointing a gun at you,” Tyler said. Using training guns, they had to shoot the people who were direct threats and yell commands at those who were not. “This gave me a different level of respect for the quick decisions officers have to make on a daily basis,” he said.
They got to see live demonstrations from the helicopter, bomb, and K9 departments and tour the 911 Communications Center, where all the dispatchers take incoming 911 calls and dispatch officers. Again, Tyler said he gained a new perspective and respect for the people performing the job.
A Collective Commitment
The Guardian Experience is hosted by the St. Johns County Sheriff Foundation, Inc., a public 501(c) (3) organization that combines the efforts of charitable donors, community leaders, and nonprofit organizations to benefit SJSO employees and their families in the event of an injury, illness, or casualty. This is all done in conjunction with SJSO’s goal to reduce crime within St. Johns County through donations that help law enforcement purchase new and innovative equipment and technology.
Just as Miller has provided SJSO with cutting-edge security technologies like the above, we can also provide the following security technologies: IP video management, access control, security monitoring, biometrics, and parking management. We also carry a number of certifications across the board that are specific to law enforcement and solutions to better serve our law enforcement clients. Reach out to our Integrated Solutions team!