Message Alerts

The Message Alerts feature provides a centralized communication channel for pushing important news, updates, and urgent notifications directly to patrol officers' handheld devices. Its primary purpose is to help administrators ensure field staff are immediately aware of changing situations, safety notices, or operational directives. This article is intended for OPS-COM administrators and field enforcement personnel using the legacy Android application.

ReviewSetup and Configuration

The messaging system is native to the application and requires no specialized configuration on the mobile device itself.

Admin Side: Administrators create and push alert messages to all active units or individual specific handhelds via the core OPS-COM administrative portal.

User Side (Enforcement Staff): No setup is required. Enforcement officers simply need to be logged into the legacy Android application and maintain an active network connection (Wi-Fi or cellular) to receive incoming messages.

Using this Feature

Enforcement personnel can receive alerts in real-time or review previously sent messages at their convenience through the application interface.

Reviewing Message Alerts

1. PatrolTap Message Alerts from the main menu of the OPS-COM application to open the message center.

2. Review the list of recent alerts sent to your device.

Message Notifications

When a new message is pushed to the device, officers noware havenotified through several standard Android OS methods even if the abilityapp is running in the background:

1. Look at the device's top header bar to see important news by viewingnew message alertsicons as they arrive.

2. Swipe down on the handheldheader device. Alert messages are pushed outbar to all or individual handhelds byopen the Administratorsnotification shade for a quick preview of the OPSCOMalert software.text.

3. AlertsTap the specific alert notification to automatically open the OPS-COM application and navigate directly to the Message Alert list.

App Icon Badges If you are on the device's home screen, the OPS-COM application shortcut icon will display ona notification badge (a small numbered dot) indicating that you have unread messages waiting.

Visual Cues and Status Indicators

Alerts are categorized into three distinct types, indicated by color, to help officers instantly gauge the handheldspriority as they come in or you can view them later. To view recent Alerts clickof the Message Alerts area within the Handheld software.

Types of Alerts

There are 3 types of Alerts that can be pushed out to the handhelds. message:

• Blue Alerts: These alerts are for general informational purposes (e.g., a reminder about an upcoming shift change).

• Yellow Alerts -: These alerts are used to inform users of events or situations that should be monitored.actively monitored (e.g., a large event causing lot congestion).

• Blue

  Red Alerts -: These alerts are reserved for informational purposes.

• Red Alerts - These alerts are forhigh-priority situations that require immediate action.action or response from the officer.

---

MessageBest NotificationPractices and Considerations

New

messages will appear in the header bar where they can be selected to view in the OPSCOM application.

• 

  Acknowledge

  Thenotifications pulledpromptly: downOfficers headershould allowsroutinely forcheck easytheir viewingnotification ofshade the alert message.  Tapping the alert takes the user toand the Message AlertAlerts list.

  menu

  

  while

  Theon applicationpatrol. shortcutEnsuring icontimely willreview showof any newincoming messages asis acritical, badgeespecially onwhen Red Alerts are dispatched for immediate action.

• Prevent alert fatigue: Administrators should reserve Red Alerts strictly for genuine emergencies or time-sensitive directives. Overusing the shortcut.highest priority alert for standard informational updates can cause officers to become desensitized to actual urgent situations.