The Cole County Commission has approved the Sheriff's Department to purchase mobile data terminals (MDTs) for vehicles in the department's patrol and civil divisions.
Sheriff John Wheeler told commissioners at their Tuesday meeting the computer tablets they have been using are nearing the end of their life span and won't be supported by their computer service in a few years. The mounted MDTs would be more efficient, allowing deputies to do more work in the field, he said.
The total cost for the computers and mounts in the vehicles would be $81,845, paid out of the Sheriff's Department contingency fund.
Wheeler said it will take some time to get the MDTs in place and for deputies to get training to run the computers.