Last Updated: November 2025
🔎 In this article: learn how manual dispatching and fragmented processes created safety risks for Fort Worth PD, and discover the towing program improvements they achieved by implementing Autura’s digital towing management software — resulting in faster response times, fewer accidents, and streamlined operations.
In 2018, Fort Worth Police Department (Fort Worth PD) sought a solution to improve their towing program by addressing challenges related to officer safety and the inability to request, dispatch, and report on towing activity in a fair, transparent manner.
Fort Worth PD formed a selection committee of members with a vested interest in improving towing program outcomes, including a towing liaison and stakeholders from law enforcement and IT. They explored several solution providers. Eventually, they partnered with Autura to implement towing management software (TMS) specifically designed for public safety agencies. The committee agreed. No other option offered comparable functionality, maintenance, compatibility, and efficiency while also providing robust training and support.
Despite a compressed implementation timeline, the department achieved impactful results. These included a more than 50% reduction in tow dispatch and response times, over 30,000 hours saved across internal departments, and a safer, more efficient towing operation.
The Challenge
Fort Worth PD was facing several towing program challenges. Their dispatch and reporting processes were fragmented, which led to confusion, inefficiencies, and — most concerning — safety risks. Specifically:
- Tow operators with Fort Worth PD government towing contracts were unclear about their rotation position, resulting in frustration and accusations of unfairness.
- Dispatch, impound, and officers operated in silos, each clearing tows independently. This caused delays and miscommunication.
- The department’s Data Unit was logging 3,000 calls per month, each averaging five minutes — capturing vehicle and police impound towing information. This information had to be entered and reconciled across three different systems with limited search capabilities — a time-consuming, manual process.
With challenges mounting and budgetary constraints, Fort Worth PD tasked the selection committee with finding and implementing a solution on a tight timeline — just 30-45 days.
The Solution
Leading the project, Fort Worth PD’s Management Analyst and Towing Liaison, Kim Dees, partnered with Autura to implement towing management software with digital dispatching, towing operations, and police impound towing solutions. Together, the team:
- Rapidly deployed Autura’s government towing software suite across the department
- Conducted hands-on training and created internal towing program documentation
- Personally visited towing companies to introduce the system, dispel misinformation, and rebuild trust in the program
- Rolled out custom functionality, including a mobile tow request button for field officers
Dee’s deep understanding of stakeholder requirements, from patrol force all the way to the impound lot, was key. Her leadership in creating staff training documentation and processes while calming internal and external nerves about towing program changes proved paramount to project success.
Additionally, tight collaboration through training and onboarding helped pave the way for Fort Worth PD’s smooth, on-time deployment. The department’s newly centralized system unified dispatch, tracking, and reporting — enabling real-time visibility and streamlined workflows.
The Results
Since implementing Autura’s software to improve their towing program, Fort Worth PD has:
- Saved over 30,000 hours across police records and communications departments⌛
- Reduced dispatch and response times by more than 50%, contributing to almost 500 fewer freeway/highway accidents, over 1,500 fewer city accidents, and 19 fewer fatal accidents⬇️
- Lowered burden on Data Unit staff, reducing call volume and duration — from five minutes to under two minutes per call☎️
- Improved transparency and fairness in towing program rotation and vendor participation⚖️
- Centralized data access, allowing all stakeholders to log and retrieve vehicle information from a single source📊
“With Autura’s help, we went from an antiquated system to one that delivered measurable safety, efficiency, and budget benefits. Autura worked hand-in-glove with us to make sure that (their towing management software) met our needs and rolled out on time.”
— Kim Dees, Management Analyst/Towing Liaison, Fort Worth PD
The Foundation – Built on AWS
Autura’s government towing software solutions are hosted exclusively on Amazon Web Services (AWS) GovCloud (US), a dedicated cloud infrastructure designed to meet the stringent regulatory and compliance requirements of U.S. government agencies.
By leveraging AWS GovCloud’s certified infrastructure, Autura gains access to enterprise-grade security controls and government-compliant frameworks. Since many infrastructure-level security validations are already covered through AWS authorizations, Autura can significantly accelerate procurement timelines and ease the compliance burden for our government partners.
Conclusion
Autura is helping other public safety agencies and municipalities, just like Fort Worth PD, modernize their towing programs.
Want to learn how your city, county, or state can benefit from faster response times, safer roads, and more efficient operations?
📅 Schedule an initial conversation with our team today.
