To better serve: New laptops for MPD

By Lora Scripps News-Aegis

Moody — A local business donated two new laptop computers to the Moody Police Department recently as way to demonstrate their commitment to the betterment of the police force and the community.

RaceWay, a division of RaceTrac Petroleum, Inc. and headquartered in Moody, provided the laptops that will be used in the Detective Division of the MPD by investigators.

“This opens up some good opportunities for us,” said Moody Chief of Police Bobby Breed. “This takes our investigative team to a higher standard of excellence. Now, going forward when they go to crime scenes, in addition to a notebook and pen they will have these laptops. They can now begin downloading information immediately and will be able to consult with the DA as quickly as hitting the send button.”

Breed added that across industry standard lines departments are going digital with investigative work. “The old days of a pen and notebook are pretty much obsolete,” he said.  “We now look to greater opportunities. I cannot tell you how much we are indebted to RaceTrac for this opportunity.”

“This community does a lot for us as well,” said RaceWay Vice President Lee Vann.  “We wanted to do something for you.”

RaceTrac’s Corporate Security Manager Kevin Thomas said that he and Sergeant David Scott had worked on a couple of cases together and that he realized the department’s need. “We just fell into our corporate responsibility of being a business here in the community,” he said.  “We wanted to do what we could. We have a surplus of laptops because of some technology transitions we are going through and we were able to supply them.”

Sgt. Scott said when RaceTrac realized their needs the response was immediate. “I had barely left the building when they offered their services and that was just overwhelming.”

The laptops will be specifically assigned to MPD investigators Thomas Hunt and Daniel Praytor. The laptops will not only change the time spent on a case, but will also change the way and the manner they will handle communications.

District Attorney Richard Minor is pushing for all law enforcement investigative divisions in St. Clair County to go digital. The MPD hopes that they will help set the standard for other agencies to come on board.

“There are multiple avenues of how this will benefit us and our work in community,” Breed said.

He added that the police department looks forward to a great partnership with RaceTrac, stressing that Tuesday was just the beginning of a long-standing relationship that they will continue to develop with each other as partners.

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