Intel specialist helps "close the case" on computer problem at Hudson Police Department
Something was wrong with the Hudson Police Department’s computer system last December. Print jobs would not print. New antivirus software would not load. The system needed to be rebooted several times a week.
The computer system plays a pivotal role in the town's police department. Among other things, it runs the department's database for record keeping; reports on incidents, such as breaking and entry; accidents; photos; and more. Fifty police officers and civilian employees depend on it. Late last year, the system increasingly could not do what they needed it to do.
Lieutenant Michael Burks, a shift commander, also manages the computer system. Four years ago, Intel IT specialists volunteered to help him install it. However, four years is a long time in the life of a computer system, especially when the volume of information entered into it keeps growing.
Buying a new system now “just wasn’t in the budget,” Burks said. He decided the system needed more disk storage, but knew that installing it without disrupting police operations would require professional help.
Computer services companies told Burks it would cost $3,000 just to come and analyze the problem. Burks knew from experience Intel had the skills he needed. One day when Fairall and his wife were visiting family in England, his cell phone rang. It was Lieutenant Burks, asking Fairall to come by and consult on the problem server.
Fairall used his operations experience to integrate the new storage on the busy server without losing data and with minimal down time. The system is now working fine, Lieutenant Burks says. Case closed.
