The Marble Falls Police Department has launched Versaterm CommunityConnect, formerly SPIDR Tech, to better communicate with and serve citizens needing police services or assistance.
This technology is designed to keep victims of crime, reporting parties, and 9-1-1 callers updated after they request police assistance and services.
Versaterm is a global public safety solutions company helping agencies transform their organizations by providing innovative solutions, expertise, and an unwavering dedication to customer service. Formed in 1977, Versaterm strives to build an ecosystem that enhances community safety by creating purposeful integrations across the public safety spectrum.
Versaterm delivers intuitive tools developed for public safety agencies, forensic labs, court systems, schools and other institutions.
CommunityConnect is a fully automated system that provides callers with pertinent information and updates about their case or incident via text message or email.
When community members call for police services or assistance, they should expect to receive a text message or an email acknowledging their call for service, as part of our ongoing commitment to transparency, accountability and responsive service. This acknowledgment ensures that callers know their request has been received and is being processed, helping to reduce uncertainty and build trust between the public and law enforcement If the responding officer is delayed, an automated message will be sent to the caller letting them know about the delay. The automated messages will be sent in English and Spanish. In some cases, a delay may occur when a higher priority call for service comes in and the officer must be diverted or when the city’s overall call volume causes delays.
This technology will also provide notifications to victims on the status of their case, to include, in some circumstances, whether an arrest was made, the case was closed or any other disposition assigned.
The third component of this technology allows the caller to provide feedback for both the call taker from Highland Lakes Regional Emergency Communications Center and the responding Marble Falls Police Department officer.
Eighty percent of funding for this technology comes from a General Victim Assistance Grant approved by CAPCOG’s Criminal Justice Advisory Committee in October of 2024.
Tristan Cushway is public relations coordinator for the city of Marble Falls. Send im a note at tcushway@marblefallstx. gov.
