The DeKalb Police Department is looking to step up its service through several improvements to be

implemented in the near future.

“We are trying to free up some time for our officers by increasing their efficiency, so they can spend more time out on the streets,” DeKalb Police Chief Bill Feithen said.

Four new improvements — laptop computers in patrol vehicles, a satellite police station, and bicycle and motorcycle patrols — are either set to begin or are being considered for the near future. These additions are estimated to cost about $330,000; 75 percent of the funds will come from a federal grant that the department has applied for, and the other 25 percent will come from the 911 emergency system funds, Feithen said.

The laptops would make it much easier for police to send information between mobile units, telecommunication officers and different police agencies. They also would include portable digital scanners that would allow officers to send photographs or data to each other instantly.

“The addition of the laptops should help free up some additional time for officers because it will allow them to type up reports in their vehicle, tap directly into the police database and use digital photos that would save on handwriting and filing,” Feithen said. “Plus the laptops can be removed from the patrol car and used at a scene where they may be beneficial.”

The computers will be put in all marked squad cars and possibly vehicles used by detectives.

DeKalb police also are considering building a sub-station, or satellite office, either at University Village Apartments, 722 N. Annie Glidden Road or at Wal-Mart Supercenter, 2300 Sycamore Road.

Feithen said the office will not be an operational police station; it will be used for officers to do their additional paperwork. Officers also would be able to use the space if they needed to question someone without driving back to the police station. Feithen said he thought the addition of the office would be a good solution for the space problem at the DeKalb Police Department, 200 S. 4th St.

Wal-Mart approached DeKalb police with the idea and offered space in their building at no extra cost to taxpayers.

Feithen said an office at Wal-Mart would provide an additional police presence on Sycamore Road, a place that already reports many thefts and accidents.

“We get lots of calls from Wal-Mart, so officers are often there anyway,” Feithen said.

The University Village location originally was going to be set up in an apartment but was changed quickly to a space adjacent to offices for the complex. Feithen said they decided against the apartment because they were concerned about disturbing tenants.

“We already had the space, and we would like to have the additional police presence along Annie Glidden Road, especially the bike patrol,” said Jim Jester, the property manager for University Village.

If the village is chosen as the site, two bike patrols set to serve the west side of DeKalb would operate out of the office.

The first bike patrol’s officers will cover the Pleasant and State street areas as part of the 3rd Ward revitalization program. An additional bike patrol also will be added to the northwest part of town, including much of Greek Row, because many calls are generated in that area, police said.

“Officers on bicycles can hear and see more, along with being able to go to places that vehicles can’t,” Feithen said. “The addition of the bicycle patrol is an example of our wishes to move more in the direction of community-oriented policing.”

Police also are considering a motorcycle patrol vehicle.

“With the high cost of gasoline, it makes sense to look into conserving fuel consumed by patrol vehicles,” Feithen said.

They are looking at two separate motorcycle models designed for police use, one offered by BMW and the other by Harley Davidson. Harley Davidson offers a lease program to police agencies for $100 per year provided that the departments buy the equipment such as lights, radios, radar and other utilities necessary on a police patrol vehicle.