(October 21, 2009)

SAN DIEGO--In Duval County, law enforcement officers throughout the area will soon have state of the art technology to share information while on patrol. They're getting this equipment thanks to the economic stimulus program.

The bidding process to buy the equipment comes to an end this week. The Duval County Sheriff's Department and three other agencies will step into the 21st century when it's all over.

Right now, sheriff officers get called out the old fashion way on a two way radio from a dispatcher. But in the next few months, officers will soon have laptop computers, like these in Jim Wells county and write out reports in the field. They'll also be tied into the courts and share warrant information through a special law enforcement system.

Duval County will share this system with the small towns countywide.

"It's definitely going to benefit us and this is what we have all been waiting for all the local agencies," said Duval County Sheriff Romeo Ramirez. "This is going to assist us in working together, sharing information, gathering intelligence and we'all be able to gathering this information from one database."

A crime analyst who doubles as a law enforcement officer will analyze county crime stats. That officer will present information on how to patrol the county better and fight crime.

Duval County is the first agency in South Texas to get this grant from the federal government. They hope to get the equipment by January.

--Manuel De La Rosa, Area 3 News, mdelarosa@kiiitv.com