The Newport Police Department is applying for a grant to replace all department computers, including mobile data terminals in police cars.
A mobile data terminal, also known as an MDT, is one type of computing equipment traditionally found in patrol cars. Newport Criminal Investigations Division Commander Captain Kevin Drohan is applying for the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security 2024 grant to assist in funding the computers.
Newport Police Chief Chris Fangman said the soft estimate for the replacement cost is at least $40,000, if not more, due to inflation.
“The printers that come with them are not cheap either,” Fangman said. “This grant will assist with funding all of that. It’s a pretty good expense for the city and department of our size. So, to get some grant funding assistance with this would be unbelievable.”