Specialized Command Vehicles Increasingly Vital for Rapid Response
In a world where crises and unpredictable events are becoming more frequent, police forces are turning to advanced mobile command vehicles to maintain operational effectiveness. The Brussels North Police Zone (PZ PolBruNo) is the latest to deploy such a vehicle, operational from September, designed to serve as a mobile command post equipped with cutting-edge technology.
The vehicle accommodates up to eight personnel and integrates fixed and portable radios, secure Wi-Fi and telephony connected to the internal network, mobile dispatching capabilities, and real-time streaming of tactical and surveillance footage. This combination of mobility and technology allows rapid coordination during critical incidents.
“Just ten years ago, few could have foreseen the ubiquity of social media, the global disruption caused by COVID-19, the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, or the surge in organized crime in Brussels. Today, society faces constant and unexpected challenges. ‘The Yellow Vest protest movement demonstrated more than anything how quickly situations can escalate. There are many more unforeseen events now,’”
says Alain Vlaemynck, Department Commissioner and Deputy Chief of Police of Brussels North.
The vehicle is organized into three compartments: a driver’s cabin, a dispatching zone for a specialized operator, and a strategic meeting area for six personnel. When stationary, it can host eight people, enabling rapid assembly of all staff required to manage an operation.
“You should view this vehicle as a small mobile command post,” explains Andrei Tieleman, Deputy Director of Dispatching and project lead. “We can recreate the same working conditions as in our buildings, with the same level of security.”
The command vehicle features six ASTRID radios (fixed and portable), 4G and 5G SIM cards with Blue Light Mobile, a secured Wi-Fi network inaccessible to personal devices, and encrypted VoIP telephony linked to the zone’s internal network. Three screens connected to a media matrix enable real-time broadcasting of tactical footage, drone and helicopter images, and surveillance feeds from the zone or neighboring areas.
All data traffic passes through the police data center with full redundancy and high-level cybersecurity. Even in the event of network failure, the system continues to function. Officers can project operational maps on tablets and share them directly with decision-makers on-site or in regional or national crisis centers. The vehicle is also designed to adapt to future technological developments.
The combination of mobility and advanced technology makes this vehicle ideal for crisis management.
“Teams need to be on-site, but to make the right decisions, they also need the ability to isolate themselves to assess the situation clearly,” says Alain Vlaemynck. “The command vehicle allows us to monitor events closely while simultaneously taking the necessary actions.”
Its deployment is critical for overseeing large-scale judicial operations, securing public events, or coordinating multiple services during multidisciplinary interventions such as explosions or fires.
Fully financed by the Brussels North Police Zone, the vehicle will also be made available to other police zones and emergency services when necessary. “With this investment, our primary goal is to help the public,” concludes Alain Vlaemynck. The vehicle will remain operational 24/7 with fully charged batteries. “Once the decision for an intervention is made, we only need a driver and a turn of the key to deploy,” adds Andrei Tieleman, highlighting how immediate readiness enables rapid and effective response.
Original article in Dutch language first appeared on the website of ASTRID.
