Poplar Bluff police to get lots of new equipment

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- The Poplar Bluff Police Department will receive nearly $262,000 in wireless computers for patrol units, body cameras and new handguns as part of the new city capital improvements project.

Police chief Danny Whiteley, deputy chief Jeff Rolland and Capt. Mike McClain explained the benefits for the police officers during a city council meeting Monday night.

"The Mobile Data Computer System enables patrol units to connect wirelessly to law enforcement computer database systems, providing officers with instant information. It is a powerful and effective tool to complete a myriad of tasks in their patrol unit while in the neighborhoods they are assigned to patrol," Whiteley said.

The mobile data terminals are estimated to cost $115,653.

Other updates for the police officers include body cameras totaling $96,874 and new .45 caliber handguns totaling $49,245.

Whiteley said the body cameras will help protect the police department and city in the event of a lawsuit, and they will help the prosecutor in criminal cases because of the available video and voice recordings.

"Our handguns are at least 17 years old. It is time for an upgrade," Rolland said.