Wired cars keep cops cruising By Emily Stone Free Press Staff Writer SOUTH BURLINGTON -- New laptop computers in South Burlington and Colchester police cruisers will allow officers to do more work from their cars instead of having to call dispatchers or go back to the station, the departments' chiefs announced Friday. The computers communicate on a radio frequency to their station's computer system and to state and national databases. An officer can, for example, look up a license plate or find out if a driver is wanted by another agency. Previously, the officer had to radio a dispatcher, who would look up the information on the station's computer. The computer system is believed to be the first of its kind in the state, Colchester Police Chief Charles Kirker said. Other departments, such as Burlington, have laptops in the cars, but they are not connected to the criminal databases, Kirker said. The system was funded through a $350,000 Department of Justice grant secured by Sen. James Jeffords' office. Each department will have six cruisers equipped with the computers, Kirker and South Burlington Chief Lealand Graham said. The system can handle up to 100 computers, which would allow other departments to join. A computer and setup would cost about $10,000 per cruiser, Kirker said. The computers also let officers on the road communicate with dispatchers without using their radios, let them do certain paperwork from the cars and will eventually let dispatchers monitor the cruisers' locations using a satellite tracking system. The computers free up dispatchers to focus on calls and visits from the public, Kirker said. It also gives officers the maximum amount of time in the community instead of having to come into the station to do paperwork. "The overall goal is to try and find a way to keep our officers on the road," Kirker said. Contact Emily Stone at 660-1898 or estone@bfp.burlingtonfreepress.com