Dec. 30, 2006
 
Rahall Announces $493,614 RTI Program to Assist WV Law Enforcement
 
By HNN Staff
 
Beckley, WV (HNN) -- The Nick J. Rahall, II Appalachian Transportation Institute (RTI) has been awarded a $493,614 grant from the United States Department of Justice to assist the West Virginia State Police (WVSP) in installing a mobile, paperless, data-reporting and responding system in 600 vehicles used throughout the state, U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall announced today.
 
The federal funding for the project was secured by Rahall as part of the Department of Justice appropriations bill last year.
 
"Bringing GPS technology to our law enforcement personnel will provide them with some of the most modern crime-fighting equipment available," said Rahall. "Our police have the difficult job of protecting our communities and fighting crime. Providing state-of-the-art technologies like GPS will give them a leg up on catching criminals and responding quickly to emergencies that may arise."
 
The project is part of the United States Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Services Program (COPS) program, a program Rahall has fought to keep alive despite Administration efforts to cut funding.
 
"This project is a perfect example of why we need to keep the COPS program alive and well," Rahall said. "West Virginia residents deserve the same police protection that is already being used in many parts of the country," Rahall said. "Better technologies for our courageous officers make everyone safer."
 
Traditionally, highway and criminal incidents are recorded at the scene on paper and then entered into the state system at a later time. However, the new system allows information to be transferred into the vehicle-based equipment, which uses global positioning satellite technology to transmit information faster and easier to WVSP headquarters other WVSP vehicles, at the scene of the incident.
 
Through this project, new, GPS-based communication equipment will be installed in WVSP vehicles and given to division officers. The technology allows WVSP to report data, including criminal and highway incident records, without the use of paper. Criminal background checks can also be conducted with the equipment, and police can communicate with other West Virginia agencies during emergencies on and off state highways. RTI will assist in the technology selection, deployment & training aspects of the project.
 
"RTI has long championed the deployment and testing of GPS technology along the railroads and the major highways," Rahall said. "This funding will help RTI expand the ongoing GPS deployment efforts to assist the law enforcement agencies in acquiring the appropriate GPS technology for their special needs."
 
RTI Director Bob Plymale echoed Rahall's sentiments.
 
"We are pleased to facilitate our state police and first responders with the technology to help make our roads and rural areas safer for West Virginians," Plymale said. "By securing the funding for this program, Congressman Rahall has provided a way for emergency personnel to respond to emergencies and protect West Virginians more safely, quickly and efficiently."
 
Eventually, other law enforcement agency vehicles, such as city or municipal law enforcement agencies, and select first responder vehicles, such as ambulances, tow trucks or fire trucks, will be equipped with compatible vehicle-based technology to expand the number of agencies that may benefit from the new system.
 
For more information, contact Dr. Richard Begley, RTI Associate Director, at begley@marshall.edu or (304) 696-7098.