SFPD's Laptops, Apps To Keep Officers On The Streets Longer

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) — The San Francisco Police Department will be sporting some new mobile technology thanks to a private-public partnership spearheaded by Mayor Ed Lee. The high-tech improvements should increase efficiency and allow officers to write police reports in the field, according to the Mayor.

It's hard to believe that it was just a year ago that the SFPD got department-wide email and stations got internet access. Now with the 60 new laptops, donated by Hewlett Packard and a new app developed by Arc Touch, Lee said on Monday that officers will be able to stay out and about.

"To be able to access crime data, to be able to utilize new technology in order to transfer speech and video into written reports will make the officers very versatile in the field," he said about the technology the city hadn't previously had access to.

KCBS' Susan Kennedy Reports:

Police Chief Greg Suhr spoke at the news conference and highlighted the extreme importance of this development.

"Being able to have these officers remain in the field through mobile technology will increase their time on the street three to four hours a day," he said.

The laptops will be given to the newest group of police officers to graduate from the academy that hit the streets this weekend and will expand from there.

sf.citi (Citizens Initiative for Technology and Innovation) an organization committed to harnessing the power of the tech sector also donated $100,000 to fund the program.

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