Valparaiso police going high-tech
VALPARAISO: Chief wants department to have latest crime-fighting technology
BY KEN KOSKY
Times Staff Writer
VALPARAISO -- Valparaiso Police Chief Michael Brickner foresees a day when the city's police officers, while on a traffic stop, will use laptop computers to pull up a picture of the person they are dealing with to make sure he's not lying about his identity.
The time also will come when officers can do that and more with hand-held computers the size of a deck of cards. The hand-held devices could be used to do things like remind officers when they need to be in court for a case.
Brickner said his goal of making the Valparaiso Police Department the most technologically-advanced department around began Wednesday when Golden Technologies of Valparaiso began installing the first wave of equipment.
"This takes us where we need to be. The next phase will take us where we want to go," Brickner said.
"Technology is a tool to make officers more effective and efficient."
Scott Dujmovich, a partner in Golden Technologies, said the possibilities are endless, including technology allowing officers to scan a person's fingerprints at a traffic stop to determine his identity.
Dujmovich said the upgrades being performed will give officers access to e-mail and the Internet, and will provide the department with a firewall to prevent leaks of sensitive information. The new technology also brings the department closer to going "completely paperless."
Valparaiso is the first police department serviced by Golden Technologies, but Dujmovich said the goal is the same whether it's a police department or a business.
"We have such a wide range of companies we service, from medical to financial to architectural," Dujmovich said.
"Basically, it's all the same."
Brickner said the equipment is being paid for by the fees the department charges for such things as accident reports and gun permits. Brickner said he wants the department to be as financially self-sufficient as possible.
Now that new computers have been installed in the patrol room, the department plans to donate its old computers.
Ken Kosky can be reached at kkosky@nwitimes.com or (219) 462-5151, ext. 354.
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