BALTIMORE, MD. (November 9, 2012) – This morning, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and Police Commissioner Anthony W. Batts delivered the first of 80 newly purchased 2013 police cruisers to officers of the Northeast District.  The vehicles, which were purchased out of the Department’s existing vehicle fleet budget, will significantly enhance the BPD’s ability to patrol neighborhoods by utilizing state of the art technology. “Baltimore has made significant progress in reducing crime throughout Baltimore, and it is the result of hard work by the men and women of the Police Department,” said Mayor Rawlings-Blake. “These new vehicles will allow our officers to spend more time in our communities, and continue to make Baltimore a safer city.” The Chevy Caprice PPV police cruisers, purchased for $2.3 million, will be equipped with mobile data terminals which will provide the foundation for the Department to begin field-based reporting. Once implemented, this will allow officers to electronically create and submit police reports directly from their patrol vehicles.   The cruisers will also incorporate tools and sophisticated mapping software to better track stolen vehicles. The technology enhancements will provide officers with real time access to appropriate criminal justice databases which will reduce the traditional reliance on radio communication.  The Chevy Caprice was selected through a peer review process by a committee of police officers and instructors with the Department’s emergency vehicle operation training team. The vehicle was field tested against the police editions of the 2013 Ford Interceptor and Dodge Charger. For more information, please contact BPD Public Affairs at 410-396-2012.