First responders are trained to instantly evaluate a situation and choose the best course of action, often with scant information to rely on. To save lives and ensure others are protected in critical situations, law enforcement, fire and rescue professionals must have full confidence in their training, their expertise—and their tools.

Voxtec translation technology enables first responders to communicate without delay. Our systems are designed to provide instant, accurate translation of potentially life-saving and order-restoring phrases to those with little or no understanding of English in crisis situations:

• Law enforcement officers rely on Voxtec translation systems to interview witnesses at crime and accident scenes, control unruly and potentially dangerous crowds, and perform standardized procedures such as field sobriety checkpoints and serving arrest or search warrants.
• Fire response and emergency medical teams use Voxtec systems to determine the severity of injuries or gather situational information that may save the lives of victims or workers themselves.

The Benefits of Record Mode Capability

Voxtec’s one-way speech-to-speech translation systems have several powerful features that make them a must-have tool for first responders. One of the most crucial is a record feature, which allows the Phraselator® P2 to hold several hours of audio recordings.

Phrases such as “Tell me what happened,” can be programmed to instantly transition the P2 into record mode. The recorded witness statement can be replayed and translated back to English by a trusted interpreter. This is a valuable function for law enforcement and corrections officers or fire and rescue personnel performing critical tasks such as inmate entrance interviews, crime, arson and accident scene witness interrogations, or overall booking procedures.

Instant Translation for Law Enforcement Procedures

The Burnsville, Minnesota police department was plagued by delays in their investigations. Officers were often waiting several hours to get the translation help they needed to interview witnesses at crime or accident scenes. The language barriers introduced by the area’s growing non English-speaking population made even routine traffic stops and response calls a challenge.

After evaluating possible solutions, the Burnsville Police Department brought in the Phraselator® P2—and experienced the value and effectiveness of this tool immediately. Officers use the system to communicate with offenders and convey information on everything from mandating court dates to processing criminals.

“This technology plays a key role in how an investigation concludes and how we interact with non English-speaking citizens,” said Sgt. Brad Leach. “We’re able to break down the barriers, and that helps everyone involved.”