ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- About one-fourth of the city's active patrol cars finally have arrived at the computer age.
The Police Department used federal grant money earlier this year to purchase 17 mobile computers as part of a goal to have officers spend more time on the street in their cars and less time at a desk doing paperwork. But technological setbacks that included trying to hook up the new equipment to the department's antiquated system meant just two testing units were being used.
With the kinks now worked out, the computers are online and about 30 police officers are trained to use them.
"They're loving it," said Officer Allan Heinze, who has been working as the tester for about 18 months. "One officer came up to me and said, 'Al, this is the best thing we've ever done.'"
Fifteen of the 60 in-use patrol cars are equipped with Patrol PC computers that allow officers to look up vehicle plates, registrations and driver's license information without going through dispatch. One computer is left as a backup, while the 17th is used to test new software.
On a recent shift, an officer was able to do 160 so-called "look ups" -- 10 times what officers could do the old-fashioned way, Sgt. Chris Kammerman said.
There are slower shifts when you could maybe get about 20 or so look ups, Heinze said. "But sometimes, you're lucky if you can get a dozen."
Without a computer, an officer has to call a dispatcher who has to take down the information and then plug it into the system there. That's if he or she isn't handling a 911 call and assuming dispatch is fully staffed, which often is not the case.
The procedure can take several minutes, and is not always accurate. The computer takes seconds, Heinze said. Soon, the officers will be able to do even more from inside their cars, Kammerman said.
Information-and-technology experts are setting up a secure server that will enable the officers to write reports, check email and get information such as fliers for wanted suspects.
Heinze already has two printers in his vehicle -- one inside the glove compartment can print reports and another set up behind the center console that eventually will print out electronic tickets -- the next step in onboard technology.
He then points to the E-Seek card reader mounted above the dashboard. Similar to a credit-card machine, it collects the information on a driver's license and inputs that into the computer. When the e-ticketing is in place, it will also allow that information to automatically be put on a ticket -- as well as be sent to municipal court.
Currently, an officer writes a ticket, then has to remember to submit it at the end of the shift. It then goes through the process of being input and forwarded.
"It's a long, involved paper trail," Kammerman said. "Obviously, (e-ticketing) is a time-saver."
The goal is to eventually have computers in every car. A $250,000 federal grant the city received in April is expected to purchase 25 more computers. The department also has $3.5 million from the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority that will go toward upgrades for its computer-aided dispatch and records-management systems.
"Eventually, we'll be able to do everything in the car," Heinze said. "It minimizes the amount of time officers are inside and keeps them on the street protecting people."
Copyright 2011 - The Press of Atlantic City, Pleasantville, N.J.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
