2007 News

August 17 , 2007

Going Online With The Men And Women Of Law Enforcement
Bucks County Commissioners Support Installation of Municipal Police Department Cruiser Laptops

Throughout Bucks County’s law enforcement community, there is a clear need to have compatible records management systems in order to share data among 42 police departments, as well as other criminal justice agencies. To that end, the Board of Bucks County Commissioners is proud to accept a $250,000 federal grant resulting in the installation of 80 Dell laptops for police cruisers in the Pennridge, Yardley, Lower Southampton and Warminster departments this week.

Commissioners Cawley and Martin with the police chiefs looking at the laptops.Commissioners’ Chairman Charles H. Martin and Commissioner James F. Cawley, Esq. visited the Lower Southampton public works garage on Aug. 16 to observe and learn more about the installation process and the computer capabilities. They were joined by several key members of the Bucks County Police Chiefs’ Association, including current Vice-President William F. Wiegman, Jr. of Lower Southampton. Also on hand were Ivyland Borough Chief Nicholas F. Rosato and Warrington Twp. Chief James J. Miller.

“This grant represents another valuable step toward interoperability of all police departments in Bucks County,” Martin said. “It will help to bolster an infrastructure that will enhance both officer and public safety, representing an important part of our ongoing Public Safety Advisory Committee planning and implementation.”

Commissioner Cawley looking into the Police cruiser as Commissioner Martin looks on.The new laptops will allow officers instant access to state databases that provide key criminal information. They include the Pennsylvania JNET, LEJIS (Law Enforcement Justice Information System), and RISS (Records Information System Sharing).

“The more information our law enforcement officers can share, the safer our communities will be,” Cawley said. “That is the intent of this technology grant.”

Chiefs Wiegman, Rosato and Miller indicated that the new computer platform will allow them to share non law-enforcement sensitive need with other public safety entities, particularly when responding to critical incidences.