Which technology is commonly used to track officer and vehicle locations in real time during patrol operations?

• A. Radio-frequency identification (RFID)
• B. Global Positioning System (GPS)
• C. Geospatial mapping
• D. Satellite telemetry

Answer: (B)

Real-time tracking of patrol locations relies on a system that provides continuous coordinates from satellites. The Global Positioning System does exactly that: it uses satellites to determine precise latitude and longitude, which can be sent to a dispatch center so supervisors see where every unit is on a map as operations unfold. This real-time capability supports rapid response, safe deployment, and coordinated moves across multiple units. RFID only identifies objects when they’re near a reader, not continuously track them; geospatial mapping is a visualization and analysis tool that needs location data from somewhere, and satellite telemetry is a broader term for data transmission from remote assets and isn’t the standard label used for real-time police unit tracking. So GPS is the technology most commonly used to track officer and vehicle locations in real time during patrol operations.