Baltimore will become one of the first agenices to issue patrol officers BlackBerry's for work purposes. The officers will be able to use the device to check warrants, criminal histories and suspect photos and become overall more efficent. The city will be using some of its $5.3 million of federal stimulus to purchase the 2,000 "Pocket Cops". Police Commissioner Frederick Bealefield II said:
"In the last 15 years in domestic law enforcement, we've trained cops around their vehicle. We've made their vehicle their mobile office. Except that now, they don't leave the office," Bealefeld said. "This Pocket Cop will help move them away from that car and break that tether."
In early tests, officers using a BlackBerry have made twice as many arrests over a 3-month period than those equipped only with radios and laptops. No word of what exact devices the officers are using however. What are you throughts? Drop a comment and let us know. Thanks to everyone that sent this in!
