Police Officers to Get Computers in Cars
The City Council has approved a $521,000 plan to put computers in police cars.
The system, set to be up and running by December, will give Ventura police officers immediate access to criminal records, driver’s license and car registration records, department databases and other information.
The system’s e-mail feature also will allow authorities to eliminate some radio communications, particularly when discussing confidential information, authorities say.
The City Council approved the spending at its regular meeting Monday night.
Computers will initially be installed in 27 police cars and in the Chevrolet Suburban of one Fire Department battalion chief. They may be used in the future in other city emergency vehicles.
Ventura is the first local law enforcement agency to install computers in police cars.
State and federal grants are paying for about 85% of the new system.
Officials project that at the end of the second year of operation, when hardware and software warranties expire, annual maintenance costs will run about $40,000.
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