Police cruisers go high-tech

Oklahoma City police are changing the way they gather information on the road.

Thursday, March 27th 2008, 7:52 pm

By: News 9


By Dave Jordan, NEWS 9

Oklahoma City police are changing the way they gather information on the road.

New Wi-Fi computers are making the cruisers high tech.

Retrofitting police cruisers with new hi-tech computers was a no-brainer, Lt. Wade Gourley said.

"If you look at law enforcement in general, there's so much that is dependent upon technology," he said.

The department installed systems in all 720 of their black and white and unmarked units.

"What this does is it allows this computer to communicate with the wireless network which gives us access to our city network and all the things that we need to use," Gourley said.

On Wednesday, the department tested its mobile dispatching system which gives responding officers much more information rather than the standard text of where the crime or disturbance is happening.

"They're going to be able to see other units that are in the vicinity around them," he said. "They'll have a clearer view of mapping the streets and it'll help them better pick their routes to their calls."

Gourley said there still are some, but initial testing of the new system proved positive.

"Our test personnel in the last few days, they've been real positive about it," he said. "They've been involved in the process as we've been developing it."

Another value added feature is GPS navigation. The computers also will be able to access information on suspects such as warrants and driver's license information.

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