Police in Anaheim, Santa Ana to Get Technology Grants
Two Orange County police agencies Thursday received federal grants totaling more than $1.5 million to upgrade technology.
Santa Ana police will receive about $1.1 million and Anaheim about $422,000 under the Federal Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Policing Services Program.
Santa Ana will use its grant to buy 81 laptop computers and a wireless network system.
Anaheim will buy equipment and technology and hire non-sworn employees to lighten the department’s administrative workload.
Anaheim will install modems in squad cars for data retrieval. Eventually, officers will be able to write and transmit reports from their cars, said Mary Foss, a staff analyst with the Anaheim Police Department.
Santa Ana’s technology upgrade will save about 38,000 staff hours, said computer services manager Mike Lewellen.
A dozen antennas and 231 modems will be installed throughout Santa Ana as part of the wireless network. Officers will use the laptops to send and receive information, including photo identification and crime-analysis statistics.
“The implementation of the wireless network and the use of laptop computers in the police vehicle moves technology from task to tool,” Santa Ana Police Chief Paul M. Walters said.
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