Ten Oklahoma law agencies to get COPS grants

<br>OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Ten Oklahoma law enforcement agencies will share more than $800,000 in grants for technology to help officers fight crime. <br><br>Broken Arrow will receive the biggest chunk of

Sunday, September 30th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Ten Oklahoma law enforcement agencies will share more than $800,000 in grants for technology to help officers fight crime.

Broken Arrow will receive the biggest chunk of the $819,250 in funding from the U.S. Department of Justice's Community Oriented Policing Services, or COPS, program.

``This is wonderful news,'' said Broken Arrow police Capt. Todd Wuestewald, who said the department didn't know it was receiving $374,644.

The money will be used to provide Broken Arrow officers with laptop computers for use in their cars and at crime scenes, from which they will be able to send information back to the police station. Wuestewald said officers there are still handwriting reports.

``Law enforcement professionals consistently cite technology as one of their most critical needs,'' said Carl R. Peed, national director of the program, which began during the Clinton administration.

Wuestewald estimated that over a years' time the technology will save the department the equivalent of 18 officers' time.

Other departments in Oklahoma receiving grants include the Bixby Police Department, $109,725; Hobart Police Department, $33,089; and Kingfisher Police Department, $33,900.

The city of Marlow will receive $50,000, while the Medicine Park Police Department is getting $11,862, officials said. Rogers State University at Claremore will receive $14,362; city of Sapulpa, $109,190; and Shawnee Police Department, $82,500.