T-L Photo/CARRI GRAHAM Bridgeport Police Lt. Darby Copeland, left, and Officer Kade Carpenter stand outside of the police department in Bridgeport.

BRIDGEPORT — The Bridgeport Police Department is requesting the community’s support through donations toward the purchase of new computers for its cruisers.

Lt. Darby Copeland said the department is in need of $4,000 to purchase new computers for the department’s four police vehicles.

“We have four cars, we’re trying to get one for each car. That would cover everything we need,” he said.

The department’s current computers are around 10 years old and are not Windows 10 compatible, the new system that will soon be implemented.

Copeland said the computers are an integral part of law enforcement’s job.

“Everything we can do at the office, we can do right here (on the cruiser’s computers). It’s a tremendous tool for law enforcement to have available,” he said.

Copeland said the most important thing the computers do is promote officer safety.

“It tells us if a person has a warrant, it tells us if they have a concealed carry permit, it tells us if they have a protection order. Whatever the case may be, it alerts us so that way we know what we were getting into right away,” he said.

Copeland said the Gateway Apostolic Church of Bridgeport has volunteered its services to aid with the installation and setup of the computers, but unfortunately they are still in need of the funding to purchase the computers.

“We have the help to install them, but we just need the funds,” he said.

The police department is asking for financial support from the community in order to purchase the new computers. The village is short on funding and is unable to aid with the purchase.

“We’re hoping the citizens and businesses will be able to help us,” Copeland said.

Anyone interested in donating toward the purchase of the computers may send donations to the Bridgeport Fraternal Order of Police, 301 Main St., Bridgeport, OH 43912 or call Copeland at 740-635-9999.

“We are always thankful for the support from the community,” he said.