Page 43 - PCPA Summer 2025 Bulletin Magazine

BETHLEHEM POLICE DEPARTMENT RECLAIMS 50% OF OFFICER SHIFT TIME WITH MODERN RMS
The Impact
Officers regained nearly 50% of their shift time—time previ-
ously lost to report writing and inadequate case manage-
ment. At a time when agencies are facing critical staffing
shortages, this regained time allows Bethlehem PD to do
more with less—keeping officers out in the field and ulti-
mately strengthening service to the community.
“Being able to go to calls where a supervisor was needed,
being able to actually be out on patrol or interacting with
members of the community is what local law enforcement
is supposed to be doing,” said Schnalzer. The intuitive
design of the system also improved morale, particularly
among younger officers. “The IT is just easy... they don’t
want to be handcuffed by multiple computer platforms and
programs,” said Chief Kott.
The upgrade also helped with recruitment and retention.
“Modern technology is the expectation for younger offic-
ers. If we’re not using the latest tools, it’s a less appealing
agency to work for,” noted Schnalzer.
The benefits extended beyond internal operations. Using
Mark43 Analytics, the department turned data into a stra-
tegic asset for transparency. “We’ve improved public trust
through transparency and accountability. Being able to put
out daily snapshots of criminal offenses with Mark43 Ana-
lytics has been huge,” said Chief Kott.
Internally, data access has empowered leadership to make
smarter, faster and more strategic decisions. “Being able
to pull data and make it consumer-friendly is critical. I can
now reach out to my Lieutenant and ask, ‘How many gun
offenses did we have last year?’ and get answers instantly
and seamlessly,” Chief Kott shared.
Through the Lehigh County Consortium, Bethlehem PD of-
ficers can now access and share reports and criminal pro-
files with neighboring jurisdictions in real time. “Being able
to share reports and name profiles is hugely beneficial for
investigations and crime detection,” said Schnalzer.
Real-time intelligence also supports situational awareness
through the department’s own NCIC-capable service cent-
er. “They’re able to get on the radio and provide real-time
information to officers while they’re on the scene,” said
Chief Kott. "Having a pulse on the activity across regions
enhances our situational awareness, officer safety, and
safety of our community members,” she added.
Enhanced compliance was another other significant ben-
efit. “Since switching to Mark43, the NIBRS error rate is
zero,” Schnalzer noted. The platform also simplified the
state-required pursuit reporting process. “Pursuit reporting
in Mark43 has been a game-changer... our accreditation
manager can easily access the data and use it as proof
when it’s time for us to be re-accredited,” said both Chief
Kott and Schnalzer.
By embracing modern, cloud-native technology, the Beth-
lehem PD has positioned itself as a leader in data-driven,
community-first polic-
ing — reclaiming time,
cultivating trust with its
residents, and redefin-
ing what effective public
safety looks like in the
21st century.
To learn more about
Mark43’s records man-
agement system and
advanced analytics
solution, visit www.
mark43.com.
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SUMMER 2025 BULLETIN