Mayor John Vieau talks to the City Council about a new five-year contract for the Peregrine Software Technologies’ data integration and analytics platform, which will be used inside the city’s new real-time information center.
Photo credit: ChicopeeTV
CHICOPEE — The City Council agreed to enter into a five-year contract with Peregrine Software Technologies for its data integration and analytics platform.
The software is designed to enhance the Chicopee Police Department’s ability to manage information, identify trends and make informed, real-time decisions across a range of operation priorities.
The vote was made during the council’s Dec. 16 meeting.
Mayor John Vieau explained that this contract allows for the software to be utilized inside the city’s new real-time information center.
Instead of the contract running for three years, the approval increases the length of the contract so it runs from Jan. 4, 2026 to Jan. 4, 2031.
Vieau said the city gets a better deal with a five-year contract instead of a three-year one.
According to Vieau, Chicopee will be the first community in New England to use this software.
“This launch is a data aggregation and coordination platform through the real-time information center, and it will be supported by the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department and also the Hampden County Addiction Task Force,” Vieau said.
He also explained that it will be funded using Opioid Settlement funds that the city has received.
Vieau said these funds will supplement and strengthen the department, rather than supplant existing programs.
“We couldn’t think of a better way to work with the real-time information center with these systems that’s going to add entirely new automated, intelligence-driven capabilities. They analyze CAD and RMS data to identify overdoses, flag at risk individuals and guide targeted outreach,” Vieau said.
Last December, the City Council approved a real-time information center to enhance safety in the community.
The info center will serve as a centralized technology-driven unit within the Police Department designed to provide real-time information and analytics to support patrol officers, police operations and investigations.
The center will create opportunities for public safety teams to use intelligence and automation, allowing them to work smarter and faster, according to the city.
The staff for the RTIC will be made up of a technology systems engineer, an analyst supervisor and an analyst funded by the city, according to previous Reminder Publishing reporting.
An additional analyst will be provided by the Hampden County Sheriff’s Office.
The center will feature other services, including a system to provide immediate translation services through the body camera, automated draft report writing based upon the data and information collected, “real-time” access to police policies and procedures, and other enhancements to provide officers more time to be in the community.
The information center gathers information from various sources, including stationary cameras, cameras in police vehicles, mapping data, automatic license plate recognition, alert sources, alarm systems and dispatch centers.
With the WESTCOMM Regional Dispatch Center moving into its new regional emergency communication center at the old Salter College site at 645 Shawinigan Drive, Vieau said there is now room in Chicopee’s public safety complex for the real-time information center.
Vieau said the city is planning an open house for the public in 2026 so that “everyone can see exactly what’s going on with technology-driven information through the real-time information center; how we’re using cutting edge technology to protect this community. It’s pretty incredible stuff.”
The City Council unanimously approved the five-year contract with Peregrine Software Technologies.
