Armed with a cell phone, an officer can, when he investigates an incident, give his phone number to the victim. That person can then call back--without the delay of going through 911 dispatchers or leaving a message at police headquarters--if, say, a burglar returns to the scene of the crime or an abusive husband comes home. Or if a neighbor comes up with a new piece of information.
"Department-issued cell phones have been an incredible tool," says John Newland, a police spokesman. Newland notes that not only do they help an officer respond quickly to a tip from the neighborhood but they also keep police officers in touch with their department when they are in areas that are not radio accessible. Moreover, officers have been finding the phones come in handy when they are dealing with stranded motorists who need to call family, friends or employers.
"They offer a non-traditional method for us to utilize technology in our crime fighting efforts," says John Creamer, a police department inspector.
The cell phones cost $24 per phone per month. So far, 190 police officers are cell-phone equipped.
