The LSU Police Department is going high tech.With about $200,000 in hand, LSUPD is installing new laptops and software into its cars.LSUPD spokesman Maj. Lawrence Rabalais said the new technology will help officers in the field be more efficient during traffic stops and investigations.Thinkstream software, which provides information from a variety of agencies in the city, allows officers to look up driver’s licenses and license plates inside their cars, rather than having to call the LSUPD dispatcher to look up the information.”Any check we can do from the computer system in the office, we can do through software on the laptops,” Rabalais said.Rabalais said the department’s main goal is to keep the officers from being at the station.Capt. Russell Rogé, LSUPD spokesman, said the laptops also allow officers to write police reports in the field without having to go back to the station.Rabalais said officers may not be able to drive around while writing the reports, but they can be stopped and be seen.”And that can act as a huge deterrent from any crimes,” he said.Through appropriations from the Louisiana Legislature, LSUPD received the $200,000 required to purchase the laptops and software.”It will keep the units out; they’ll be seen more; they’ll be out and about,” Rogé said. Without the laptops, Rogé said constant returns to the police station keeps one or two officers off the streets every hour when only five are patrolling the University during the night shift.”It’s a safety and security issue,” Rogé said.Rabalais said the department is still in the process of installing the laptops with the software into every car. He said it should be fully in service by the end of the week.Rogé said traffic reports can also be done on the scene. The drivers in accidents can sit with the officer while they type up their statements inside the car.”The largest benefit is to keep our people in the field and less downtime in the office,” Rabalais said.Rabalais said the only time officers should be back in the office is to print police reports at the end of their shifts.LSUPD motorcycles will also receive new laptops in their saddlebags, Rabalais said.”We have one of those laptops being tested to make sure it’s rugged enough to use,” he said. “If it works out, we have money allocated for that as well.”
—-Contact J.J. Alcantara at [email protected]