These computers are issued to each deputy assigned to the Patrol or Investigative sections to reduce breakage and maintenance through accountability. This type of deployment provides the Sheriff's Office with a truly mobile solution, and provides effective use of technology for the law enforcement field units. This money was to institute the above mention field-reporting program. Representatives from sections of the department formed an automation committee. The committee began a search throughout California and the rest of the country for a suitable solution.
Several issues affect the successful deployment of laptop computers in law enforcement field units.
The program would allow the deputy in the field the ability to collect information on a laptop computer. The information would be accessible to all authorized personnel, most importantly the deputy in the field. The program is Windows95 compliant. The program is Y2K compliant. The Sheriff's Office convinced the County Board of Supervisors to allow a sole-source negotiation with TracNet Corporation, this was allowed due to the limited amount of vendors that could produce an integrated system that met our requirements and specifications.