Baltimore County has installed a wireless broadband network in 350 County police vehicles. The broadband connectivity will enable officers to conduct their work more effectively with a secure, mobile, high speed wireless connection to internal and online law enforcement applications and databases.
"This is another example of collaboration by Baltimore County agencies," says County Executive Jim Smith. "The partnership between the Baltimore County Office of Information Technology and the Police Department demonstrates that Baltimore County government is committed to working for the greater good of its citizens and those who serve. Supporting our police officers by giving them the most up-to-date equipment and training is at the forefront of our responsibilities."
In addition to the broadband network in vehicles, the County has implemented a mobile application that will allow County police officers to search for both in-state and out-of-state driver and vehicle information from all State and Federal databases, including driver license photos from the MVA. This application will allow officers to have access to vital information while in the field and serve as a critical verification tool while providing them a greater degree of safety.
The cost of installing wireless broadband in 350 police cars for the first year is $196,800 of which $176,400 is a Law Enforcement Terrorism Protection Program (LETPP) grant. Cost of the MVA photo/driver information tool is $110,324, of which $88,934 is a federal Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant. Police officers demonstrated the use of both tools at the news conference.
Source: Baltimore County Department of Economic Development
Writer: Walaika Haskins