Police Plan to Spend Grant on Technology

The Police Department has received a $91,000 grant from the U.S. Justice Department and will use the money for technology improvements, officials said.

Initial plans for the funds include new hardware for booking and processing prisoners, and upgrading information transfer between station computers and police car laptops.

The technology will allow for more efficient processing of prisoners, Sgt. Derek Marsh said, and can quickly transmit fingerprints to computers in police cars to assist in suspect identification.

Also, police officers’ reports will be written directly on laptop computers and downloaded to the station, Marsh said. Reports are now written by hand.

“It will cut report time by at least 25%,” Marsh said.

Last year the department began implementing a five-year technology plan that could cost as much as $1 million.

Eventually, the department will be able to set up computer networks linking jails and other police departments for the rapid exchange of information, fingerprints and photographs, Marsh said.

The City Council held a public hearing on the issue this week, a federal requirement before the funds can be accepted.