El Monte : Police to Get Computers
The El Monte Police Department will spend $1.8 million on new computer equipment, including mini-computers that will be installed in about 20 police cars.
The City Council approved the funding last week, which will come from money seized in drug raids. About 60 computer terminals will be installed at the station and in patrol cars over the next three years.
The computers will allow dispatchers and investigators to work more efficiently, police officials said. Today, dispatchers have no computers, and 24 investigators at the station share three terminals. Administrators share terminals with officers.
Police reports and records will be combined on the new computer system, which officers will be able to access while on patrol once computers are installed in their cars.
The on-board computers allow police to run license plate and warrant checks, as well as find out if people have had prior arrests or if police have been called previously to homes and buildings.
Police currently access that information by calling a dispatcher, who has to gather the information and then call back the officer.
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