After New Orleans began using a video surveillance system over a WiFi network in 2004, the murder rate in the neighborhoods where the system was installed dropped by 58 percent, according to the city's CIO Greg Meffert. Similar reductions were seen in other types of violent crime, he added. Other cities are also using WiFi technology to assist police officers in the field. Oklahoma City, for example, is testing a network this month that was originally planned to allow police to complete reports in the field and access mug shots and centralized records.

However, officials are considering expanding its use to geographic information systems to automatically route fire trucks around hazards or direct fire fighters to hydrants with the highest water pressure. The system may eventually include a VoIP system with universal phone numbers and message routing for police officers to improve communications with residents.