BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Using Global-Positioning System units, Baltimore County officials recently began tracking employees they think are most likely to encounter violent situations — social workers and parking ticket writers.

The technology allows the county to monitor the employees’ whereabouts at any given moment on a map, said Rob Stradling, director of the county’s information technology department.

The county plans to expand use of GPS to track all “field” employees — anyone not behind a desk — by the end of next year, he said, but wanted to begin with the most vulnerable employees.

“They are going into some not-so-pleasant situations sometimes,” Stradling said. “It can be rather confrontational.”

Later this month, officials are expected to announce that all snowplows this winter will be equipped with GPS technology to track location, speed, whether they are carrying salt, and idle time. If rescue crews need to reach a homebound elderly citizen, for example, the county could identify which plow is closest to the house and clear the way.

Other counties are also equipping road crews with GPS devices, including Howard County, which allows residents to access an interactive county map to determine when their streets will be plowed.

Stradling said Baltimore County’s model cost about $200,000.

In September, the county provided GPS-equipped cell phones to all permits and development inspectors, allowing administrators to identify employees closest to problem areas. Recreation and parks and environmental inspectors are next, officials said.

Mike Mohler, who oversees the county’s code-enforcement division, said the monitoring met expected resistance from his employees when they were outfitted with cell phones in September. He said monitoring helps make government more efficient.

“I’m not interested in where you have lunch,” Mohler said. “I’m interested in if we are using our manpower effectively.”

jmalarkey@baltimoreexaminer.com

Comments from Examiner Readers

8:37 PM MST on Thu., Jan. 17, 2008 re: "Using GPS to track down your daughter ... or your dog"

Examiner Reader said:
I would buy one just to make sure my 16 year old was safe. Finally technology is making the world a little better

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9:15 AM MST on Wed., Dec. 5, 2007 re: "GPS to track social workers, ticket writers in Baltimore Co."

Examiner Reader said:
12:16 must be one of the workers being tracked. How could it be a waste of taxpayers money to ensure that County workers are doing what they're being paid to do during their workday? As a taxpayer, I want to know an inspector isn't hanging out at McDonald's drinking coffee when they're supposed to be performing work. I hope the tracking results in the workers that are not doing their jobs being fired and replaced with folks that are willing to earn their salaries instead of those that think the County owes them a job!

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9:23 AM MST on Tue., Dec. 4, 2007 re: "GPS to track social workers, ticket writers in Baltimore Co."

Examiner Reader said:
12:16 needs to get a life. Tracking workers who are in danger is a good solution in addition to detering all slackers ( our tax dollar ). Good solution using up to date technology.

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12:16 PM MST on Mon., Dec. 3, 2007 re: "GPS to track social workers, ticket writers in Baltimore Co."

Examiner Reader said:
I hope they put one on Fred Homan and Suzane Berger. They need to keep track of these two rather than snow plow operators. What a waste of tax payers money. Here goes Smith again.

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