Public Safety Agency Data Conversion

A municipal public safety agency needed to migrate from legacy software systems to Spillman Flex, a modern comprehensive public safety software suite. The migration had to be completed within strict timeframes to align with the agency\'s broader digital transformation initiative.

The project was particularly challenging for several reasons:

• Complex source data spread across multiple legacy systems (QED and

Caliber InterAct CAD)

• High compliance requirements for law enforcement data

• Critical nature of public safety operations that couldn\'t tolerate

downtime

• Need to maintain data integrity and referential relationships

• Limited institutional knowledge of legacy systems after key personnel

departed

• Complex data mapping requirements between different system

architectures

• Regulatory requirements for handling sensitive Criminal Justice

Information (CJIS)

We implemented a comprehensive four-phase methodology that ensured accurate data transfer while maintaining regulatory compliance:

Assessment Phase

• Conducted comprehensive analysis of source data quality and structure

• Cataloged all data objects and identified conversion requirements

• Documented data quality issues requiring remediation

• Created detailed mapping of legacy data elements to new system

structures

• Identified critical vs. non-critical data for prioritization

Integration Development

• Developed a custom API-based integration solution to streamline

conversion

• Built transformation logic to adapt legacy data formats to new system

requirements

• Created automated validation processes to verify data integrity

Code Mapping and Testing

• Collaborated with agency personnel to map legacy code tables to new

system codes

• Performed iterative test conversions with stakeholder review

• Refined conversion logic based on test results and agency feedback

• Validated proper handling of specialized data like geocodes and

security elements

Final Conversion

• Executed final data migration during scheduled cutover window

• Performed comprehensive post-migration verification

• Provided detailed documentation of the conversion results

Technical Innovation

Our approach featured several innovative technical solutions:

1. API-Based Integration Framework: Rather than using standard export/import processes, we developed a more flexible API integration that allowed incremental updates and provided greater conversion options.

2. Code Translation Process: We created a mapping system that allowed the agency to specify code corrections during the mapping process, eliminating the need to correct all legacy records prior to conversion.

3. Iterative Testing Model: Our integration design allowed for multiple test conversions without disrupting operations, enabling stakeholders to verify results and refine the process.

4. Automated Validation: We built validation tools to automatically identify and report data consistency issues both pre- and post-conversion.

Results Delivered

The project delivered significant outcomes for the client:

• Successfully migrated over 20 critical data types including

Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) records, law incident data, booking information, and premises records

• Maintained full data integrity across all in-scope mission-critical records

• Completed conversion within planned timeframe, meeting the agency\'s

go-live date

• Implemented successful conversion despite legacy system knowledge gaps

• Provided comprehensive documentation for future reference

• Ensured continuity of public safety operations throughout the

transition

The successful data migration delivered substantial value:

• Enabled the agency to transition to modern public safety software

without data loss

• Maintained operational continuity for critical public safety functions

• Preserved valuable historical data for investigations and legal

requirements

• Reduced manual data reentry that would have been required without

conversion

• Enhanced data quality through identification and resolution of legacy

data issues

• Met all compliance requirements for sensitive law enforcement data

By successfully completing this complex migration, we demonstrated our ability to handle mission-critical data conversion projects with stringent accuracy, security, and timeline requirements.