Police Don’t Like Wireless Upgrade

As the nation’s wireless carriers shut down their cellular digital packet data (CDPD) wireless systems, police officers that rely upon the platform for searching crime databases on their wireless laptops are crying foul.

Verizon Wireless and AT&T Wireless are the two largest suppliers of the service, which costs police departments $50 to $75 a month per cruiser to use. They’re replacing CDPD, which has speeds about half of what dial-up modems supply. The more advanced wireless platforms are six times faster than dial-up.

But police complain that the newer platforms drop signals when they enter alleys or drive under bridges. Also, the Verizon/AT&T systems were compatible, so they had coverage all the time. With the new systems, signals are dropped anytime a police car leaves a coverage area, or roams, police say.