Hamilton County deputies may get IPads for use in their patrol vehicles.
Sheriff Jim Hammond said Panasonic Toughbooks now in use in sheriff cars are failing and out of date.
The department six years ago bought 112 of the Panasonics at $4,280 each. Total cost of the installation was close to $500,000, officials said.
Sheriff Hammond said deputies in Wilson County, Tn., have been using IPads in their vehicles for the past nine months, and it's working out well.
Ron Bernard, who heads IT for the sheriff, said all sheriff vehicles could be outfitted with IPads at a total cost of $220,000 spread over two years.
He said they can be bought for between $850 and $900 each and serve the same function as the Panasonics.
The in-car computers are connected to software on the sheriff's server.
An officer can use the touch screens on the devices to look up mugshots, arrest records, etc., and to make arrest reports.