RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE PURCHASE OF LAPTOP

COMPUTERS FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT

Recommended Action:

1. Approve the purchase of 3 laptop computers for the police department at a cost of $3671 each plus tax.
2. Approve contract purchase based upon the State of California Multiple Award Schedule with Dell Computers. CMAS contract number: 3-94-70-0012.

Background:

The police department has purchased Dell computers as apart of the RMS and CAD upgrades that are currently underway in conjunction with the West Covina Police Department. The purchase of these laptop computers will assist the department's community lead officers and detective bureau. This will facilitate the preparation of search warrants and other legal documents and reports in the field and would facilitate the modification of these documents instantaneously. The fax/modem capability will allow detectives to transmit documents from the field to the station or court if necessary. These laptop computers will also serve as prototypes to the development of laptop computers in the patrol cars. While these particular models of laptops would not be utilized in the cars, they would be utilized to test the software and hardware of the new mobile system.

The department has also purchased a new digital camera which can be used in conjunction with a laptop computer at crimes scenes and major incidents. In the event of a natural disaster, the digital camera can be used to document damage to city buildings and infrastructure and the pictures can be downloaded from the camera to the hard drive of the laptop computer. The department has recently purchased a new "This is your Speed" trailer and a laptop computer will be used in collecting the data from this piece of equipment in the field.

Analysis:

The police department purchased Dell computers upon the recommendation of the West Covina Police Department because of Dell's quality and reliability. In an effort to maintain uniformity among the departments computer equipment staff recommends the purchase of the Dell laptops. Dell also offers a three year next day replacement warranty that includes parts and labor. The specifications of the new laptop computers are as follows:

Dell Latitude LM P133 MHz, 12.1" SVGA active matrix display, 24 MB RAM, floppy drive, 10 speed CD-ROM, 33.6 Xjack with cable for fax capabilities in the field, 1.4 EIDE GB hard drive, nylon carrying case.

The City Council recently purchased a total of 5 laptop computers at a cost of slightly less than these proposed laptops. The computers for Council were also purchased under a CMAS contract as well.

Fiscal Impact:

The total cost of $11,921.58 to come from the COPS grant moneys, 153-2106-5402.