At Mark43, the Solutions Engineering team is built on firsthand experience with nearly all former law enforcement and veterans. That foundation shapes how demos are delivered: grounded in reality, informed by lived experience, and focused on what works in the field.
With a career that began at Saratoga Springs police department and a family deeply rooted in public safety, Abbey Temple, Solutions Engineer at Mark43 served as a former dispatcher, records supervisor and system administrator bringing essential product knowledge and perspective.
Abbey explains how her law enforcement background has prepared her for her Mark43 career.
From Public Safety to Solutions Engineering
Public safety has always been part of my life. My father and grandfather were both police chiefs in my hometown of Saratoga Springs, and my brother was a police officer, so that environment naturally led me into the field.
I started my career as a dispatcher for eight years before moving into records, where I became a system administrator. That combination gave me a full view of operations, from call taking to reporting, and how critical technology is at every step.
A defining experience was participating in a large, multi-agency CAD and RMS procurement and implementation. It was a complex, often challenging process that opened my eyes to the natural resistance to technology changes and why configurability is essential. You can’t force multiple agencies to operate the same way. Every department has its own processes, and technology should seamlessly enhance and improve existing workflows, not attempt to reinvent them.
Sitting through that implementation, I kept thinking ‘there has to be a better way’. That is when I realized I could make a bigger impact by helping deliver solutions that meet agencies where they are, rather than forcing them to adapt to rigid systems. I made the decision to move to the vendor side and began as a Solutions Consultant at CentralSquare, where I spent nearly five years, before moving to Mark43.
What immediately stood out to me about Mark43 was its commitment to leading the industry through innovation and building truly best in class, cloud-native technology, especially when it comes to mobility. Today’s officers already carry incredibly powerful tools in their pockets. Enabling full access to CAD and RMS from a phone and giving officers the ability to complete critical work in the field, is quickly becoming the standard and Mark43 is helping define it.
At the same time, I wanted to stay closely connected to police departments. As a Solutions Engineer, I partner directly with agencies, speak their language, and bring that innovation to life.
Building Demos That Earn Trust
A strong demo is built on trust, not just features.
Agencies can tell immediately if something feels disconnected from their reality. My goal is to tailor every demo to my audience. That means showing how technology directly supports real-world scenarios, pain points that resonate, and local policy frameworks.
I also focus on making demos relatable through mentions of relevant workflows, local policy, and landmarks. Though small, these mentions help officers, command staff, personnel and city officials better connect to the value of the technology.
It comes down to understanding the realities of the job. Not every role looks the same. Reflecting that in a demo matters because it shows you understand what their day-to-day actually looks like.
Those small moments can make a big difference in credibility.
Making Change Work for Agencies
We all know the saying that the only thing cops hate more than change is the status quo. Most law enforcement and first responders go through one major technology transition in a career. Agencies have likely been using the same system for decades and it’s important to acknowledge that upfront. I am not going to pretend it is easy.
We can make the transition more manageable and help them find easy wins. In many cases, the way they operate today is shaped by the limitations of their existing technology. They are making three lefts to get where they need to go, instead of just making one right. When you remove those limitations, you can simplify the process and make it more efficient.
At the same time, agencies are dealing with more tools than ever. CAD, RMS, body cameras, drones, and analytics platforms are all part of the ecosystem now. The challenge is not adding more, but making everything work together. In demos, I focus on connecting those pieces and showing what is possible when systems are aligned and interoperable. Agencies want partners that play nice in the sandbox, and that’s really the ethos at Mark43. Lastly, being honest throughout the process is critical. You can show them that it is worth it and that there is a path forward, together.
Solving the Same Problems from a Different Seat
This role does not feel like leaving public safety. It feels like continuing to serve in a different way.
I am still working closely with police departments and still learning as the profession evolves. The difference now is that I get to take what I learn from one agency and bring it to another. This unlocks possibility, whether that is with technology or even how others are approaching the same challenges.
Smarter Technology, Higher Stakes
AI is changing public safety technology.
Public safety professionals are already using AI tools in their personal lives and expect that same level of efficiency in their professional tools. There is a real opportunity to use AI to streamline workflows like report writing, summarization, and managing increasing data and discovery demands.
In places like New York, for example, agencies are working within tighter timelines to turn over evidence and documentation. That kind of pressure will make a real difference by helping teams move faster and stay organized.
At the same time, it has to be done responsibly. You cannot remove the human element from public safety. You cannot put AI on the stand to testify. Officers still need to be able to explain their decisions, and there are legal and procedural realities that technology has to respect. That is something Mark43 is approaching the right way. It is not about replacing people. It is about giving them better tools to do their jobs.
A New Way to Serve
If you are in public safety and considering a move into technology, do it. It can feel like a big leap, especially coming from a structured environment. But the work is meaningful, and you contribute to the same mission at scale.
It is just a different pace, and in many ways, that can be a positive change.
If you’re law enforcement, a veteran or looking to make an impact where innovation is driving the mission forward, explore the open roles on our Careers Page.
