Police Department To Use Grant On Technology
The Allentown, Pa., police department has received a nearly $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) office to upgrade a 20-year-old records management system that is not Windows-based and requires a computer analyst to identify crime trends. First on the agenda for the new-found funds will be around 60 laptop computers that will allow officers to file reports and view mugshots from their vehicles. Assistant Chief Ronald Manescu says that the laptops will also enable commanders to access or calculate future crime figures from any location. He adds that the funds will be used to integrate the department’s three records systems in order to “keep officers out there instead of bringing them in [to headquarters].” City officials originally wanted EMS and Fire Department records systems to be upgraded as well, but Manescu notes that the COPS grant only applies to law enforcement.
Abstracted by the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center(NLECTC) from the Allentown Morning Call (PA) (11/04/04) P. B3; Pomponio, Angela .
