PATROL AWARDED FEDERAL GRANT

The $1.6 million federal grant awarded the Missouri State Highway Patrol Wednesday will put more troopers on the road and initiate a statewide computer-aided dispatch system.

The COPS MORE grant was awarded under the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act by the U.S. Department of Justice. The grant was acquired through a joint effort between Gov. Mel Carnahan and the patrol.

"This grant will allow us to put more officers on the streets and help give them the newest and most sophisticated tools to bring criminals to justice," Carnahan said in a prepared statement.

Funds from the grant will be concentrated in three areas, said Chris Sifford, a spokesman from Carnahan's office.

About $200,000 of the grant will allow the Highway Patrol to hire civilian telecommunicators. This will free up 10 troopers for road duty.

Most of the grant funds will go toward purchasing much-needed computer and computer-related equipment, Sifford said.

Office computers and laptop computers for vehicles will consume $661,000 of the grant, Sifford said, with the remainder -- $754,000 -- going toward a state-wide Computer Aided Dispatch system, he said.

Highway Patrol and government officials hope the new equipment will speed up patrolmen's response times.

"With the COPS MORE grant, our officers will be able to use their time more efficiently and effectively," said Col. Fred Mills, superintendent of the Missouri Highway Patrol. "This will enable them to spend more time on the road providing services and protection to the citizens of Missouri."

Capt. M.E. Patrick is the commanding officer of Troop E at Poplar Bluff. The troop has offices in Jackson and 12 other locations in Southeast Missouri.

He said the laptops will allow patrolmen to run their own checks on license plates and individuals.

"Then they don't have to compete for air time," Patrick said. "It will enable us to check more people more quickly."

Each of the state's zone offices will get one new office computer but Patrick said he wasn't sure if Troop E will be getting laptop computers for patrolmen or not.

Naturally, this equipment is meant for troopers in high radio-traffic areas, he said. The most obvious needs are in St. Louis, Kansas City and possibly Springfield, he said. After those needs are met, he's not sure if there will be enough equipment left for Troop E.

Patrick is excited about the extra employee the grant will provide for Troop E.

"It will decrease the workload for our radio personnel," he said. "We'll get one more trooper on the road and that means the roads will be that much safer."

Patrick said he doesn't anticipate the computers will be installed until training is conducted. He said that could take as long as three months.