Until recently, had Merkt needed clarification on the call's details or address, she would have had to get on the radio and ask the dispatcher to repeat the information. Now all the Los Gatos­Monte Sereno police officer has to do is glance at a laptop computer screen in her cruiser.

In fact, she could have accessed another menu and the mobile dispatch computer could have let her know that fellow officer Kimbal Stanley was en route to the call right behind her.

When she pulled up to the house, it could have also showed her the U.S. Department of Justice records for the house and its residents. Or the DMV history of any cars parked there.

"Any time they dispatch me to anything, it pops up on this screen," Merkt said as she logged into the computer earlier in the day. But the device does more than just duplicate information sent by radio—still the primary form of dispatch. Officers riding in any one of the department's 14 cruisers can search for information on people, property, vehicles, firearms and prior calls. They can view the status and location of other on-duty officers. They can send and receive messages to and from dispatchers, supervisors and other officers.

During Merkt's patrol, a message popped up on her screen: "When do you want to take lunch?"

"My dog has been sick," she explained. "I've been taking a lunch break to give him medicine."

When stopped at a traffic light, Merkt types in her reply. She doesn't need to take her break today, since her husband will be home to take care of the dog.

Such use of the computer may seem trivial, but that's exactly how it helps officers. Merkt's supervisor and dispatchers need to know if she'll be taking a break. But the lunch question doesn't require immediate response, so the computer is used to keep the radio open for more urgent communication.

Chief Scott Seaman said the devices maximize officers' effectiveness by reducing the amount of time they have to spend at the station.

"Departments have evolved from handwritten reports to computer-written reports," he said. "Without the ability to have wireless transmission, officers have to come in at the end or in the middle of shifts to file reports. This technology allows us to have officers file from the field."

Merkt said having dispatch computers in the cars isn't really a brand-new concept—other law-enforcement agencies have had that technology for several years. But Seaman said the wireless report-filing capability does put the department ahead of many of those others. And he said new functions will be added to the computers in the next few months and beyond.

For example: currently, only text data on most subjects is available in the vehicles. But in the near future, photographs of both suspects and missing children will likely be transmitted to the laptops. Seaman also said the computers could also receive such advanced data as streaming video from security cameras.

"When you open up bandwidth, you open up capabilities," he said. "As with any computer, once you get it, you can start loading it up with other things."

Nicholas Olson, the department's management information systems specialist, said there has been mandatory training with the computers, but Merkt said not all of the officers are as comfortable with the equipment as she is.

"Everyone has been trained, but some have more prior computer experience than others," Olson said in an email message, also signed by Capt. Alana Forrest. "The majority of the feedback from officers has been positive. As with any new piece of technology, there are going to be bugs. Our staff is committed to fixing any problems so that officers feel confident with their equipment."

Seaman said that though not all officers are required to be proficient with the computers, they will be soon. In the meantime, the department is working to improve the technology for those officers who do use it.

One way to do that is to increase the number of high-speed wireless connections throughout town. Right now, the department has just one. Though the technology works in such a way that transmitted information is never lost, Seaman said additional access points would ensure that information gets to officers as quickly as possible throughout the entire town.

The $6,000-per-unit cost of the mobile dispatch computers was funded by a state technology grant, but Olson said the department probably won't see similar grant money from California in the near future. Seaman said the police department would be soliciting community donations for the $3,000 to $5,000 access points. But the chief added that the system is very much functional and has given the department a helpful efficiency boost.

"There are a limited number of agencies that do their reports [wirelessly]," he said. "I'm proud of the department for being able to foresee the value of this technology and implement it."

For information about funding additional wireless access points, contact Capt. Alana Forrest at 408.354.6841.