ASU police will soon be able to know if people have been bad or good with the click of a mouse.
The department is negotiating a contract using funds from a Homeland Security grant to upgrade its dispatch system by equipping police cars with computers said Susan Madden, ASU director of administrative services and technical support.
"Currently, officers have to radio dispatch for information about suspects and vehicles," said ASU police Sgt. John Sutton. "The new system will allow officers to get more complete information from computers in their vehicles."
Sutton said the new system isn't the latest and greatest, but it will reduce radio traffic and speed up the transfer of information.
"The officers are really excited to receive the technology," Sutton said. "We have been interested in upgrading the system for more than five years."
Sutton said ASU police are incorporating technology that has been used for years in other departments.
Sutton said Paradise Valley and Goodyear police as well as the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office are currently using similar systems to the one ASU police have planned.
The Arizona Board of Regents announced plans for the new Computer Aided Dispatch and Records Management System at its Aug. 20 meeting. ABOR estimated the upgrade would cost more than $1 million.
Sutton said he expects a final contract will be signed by the end of the week, and the department plans to integrate the system by January 2005.
"ASU DPS will have an integraded system that will be able to access required state and federal law enforcement databases and communicate with other law enforcement agencies," Madden said.
In addition to expediting routine stops, Madden said the system would provide more specific and timely information to emergency units responding to fires or terrorist incidents.
Sutton said the system would also give officers a higher degree of safety.
"Officers will be able to see if a suspect has made threats against police in the past and won't have to stand outside their vehicles as long," Sutton said.
John Gunby, a criminal justice junior who volunteers with the Tempe police, said he thinks the system will benefit students.
"We should see this as ASU police looking out for our safety by upgrading to a higher standard," Gunby said.
Reach the reporter at mark.saxon@asu.edu.
