In one scenario, an officer pursues and overtakes two suspects in an alley, but as she approaches them, the officer realizes her portable radio became detached during the chase.

In another, officers fan out around an active crime scene. They can’t see one another, but their need to swiftly and effectively position themselves around the area is paramount to containing potential casualties and apprehending suspects.
In a third situation, an officer finds himself lost in an unfamiliar setting, unable to accurately identify his own location or convey it to the command center.

All of these circumstances are realistic—and not entirely uncommon—examples of the challenges law enforcement professionals can face in the field. Fortunately, there is a solution to all three scenarios and others like them: the global positioning system (GPS).