Suffolk Police To Install New Technology In Cop Cars

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY - Suffolk Police announced on Tuesday that they will be installing new technology into the police cars.

A total of 25 police cars will have new portable tablets to replace the "fixed laptops" which will allow officers to use their computer outside of the vehicle.

Officers can now carry the devices anywhere during a call for service providing full access to data.

The tablets will also work as a phone and digital camera. Officers,who do not have department-issued cell phones can now be reached directly by other department members via telephone through the tablets.

The tablet provides a platform for technological additions like video conferencing. All police vehicles are expected to have tablets by the end of 2019.

The project will install tablets in a total of 450 vehicles for the 2,500-officer department within the next 3 years and cost a total of $2.25 million, according to a report in Newsday.

Some, like local Legislator and former Suffolk officer, Robert Trotta (R-Fort Salonga), expressed some concerns with the new technology.

“I like to have a cop’s hands empty as he’s walking up to a house," he told Newsday. "I hope there’s training to let the cops know their lives are more important than a tablet."

However, Chief of Department Stuart Cameron believes this won't be a problem and that officers will leave the tablets inside the car until a situation has been handled.

"I think it has the opposite effect; I think it will actually improve officer safety," he told Newsday. "They’ll have access to information about prior conduct of people, whether they’ve been violent in the past, whether they have warrants much more rapidly so they can take an appropriate security posture."

What do you think? Do you believe the new technology will be a problem or will help Suffolk officers?