Vancouver Police Department Funding Included in Final Spending Bill

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) announced that the $500,000 she included in a 2010 spending bill for a new Vancouver Records Management System (RMS) has been included in the final version of the bill.  The new RMS represents a major step forward in technology for the Vancouver Police Department, enabling it to perform better crime analysis, deploy personnel in a more effective manner, share information more effectively, and pinpoint areas where patterns of crime are occurring.  The final version of the spending bill came out of a conference committee between the Senate and the House and is expected to pass both bodies shortly before being sent to the President for his signature.

"This funding will ensure that Clark County will have the resources it needs to keep its families safe," said Senator Patty Murray. "In such a fast growing region of our state, it is critical that our technology keeps pace with our public safety needs and helps connect our police officers to our citizens.”

“The heart of intelligent policing is timely, reliable, and accurate information,” said Chief Clifford Cook, Vancouver Police Department. “Without a robust Records Management System, effective community policing cannot exist. We appreciate Senator Murray’s assistance in developing a new, badly needed Records System for SW Washington.”

The RMS will enhance Vancouver’s ability to partner with regional law enforcement agencies in Southwest Washington and the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area.  It will also allow police to communicate with citizens online.

When the current information system was originally purchased in 1996, Clark County and its cities served a population of 298,000.  Today, Clark County has more than 425,000 citizens.

The funding was included in the fiscal year 2010 Consolidated Appropriations Act. Senator Murray is a senior member of the Appropriations Committee.