Pryce Secures Federal Funds for Local

November 9, 2005

Pryce Secures Federal Funds for Local
Law Enforcement Technologies

Ohio Highway Patrol, Columbus Division of Police to Benefit

WASHINGTON , DC – Today, Congresswoman Deborah Pryce (R-Upper Arlington) announced the inclusion of federal funds for both the Ohio Highway Patrol and the Columbus Division of Police in the Conference Report to the FY2006 Science, State, Justice, Commerce (SSJC) Appropriations bill, which is expected to pass the House and Senate this week before being signed into law by President Bush.

“These funds will keep our streets safer, and directly improve the safety of law enforcement officers in Ohio,” said Pryce. “As a former prosecutor and judge, I know that technology can be an officer’s most important asset. The evidence that technology can expose and document can make the decisive difference between a criminal walking the streets of Columbus or being planted firmly behind bars.”’

The SSJC bill contains two law enforcement technology priorities of Congresswoman Pryce:

$500,000 for the Ohio Highway Patrol: The Advanced Law Enforcement Integrated Computing and Interoperable Vehicle Technology Program

Pryce and Congressman Dave Hobson (R-Springfield) secured funds to enable the Ohio State Highway Patrol to equip vehicles in the Central Ohio area with vital officer safety technology and facilitate interoperable communications among first responders. With in-vehicle computing capability, officers can request and download critical enforcement information directly from the patrol vehicle. Software for field-based reporting enables officers both to access and report real-time data regarding crashes, traffic citations, and first responder information. Integrated in-vehicle computing systems reduce driver distraction by eliminating multiple control heads, and further enhance safety through unobstructed air-bag deployment.

$150,000 for the Columbus Division of Police: Digital In-Car Cameras

This money will allow the Columbus Police Department to install in-car digital cameras for their Freeway Patrol Division. The new cameras will increase recordable memory by 1000 percent and will aid in the prosecution and conviction of criminals in courts of justice. These cameras are not currently available to the Police Department because of budget cuts.