DIXFIELD – Dixfield police cruisers will soon have laptop computers.

At Monday night’s selectmen meeting, Chief Richard A. Pickett asked for and got the board’s permission to buy the new equipment.

Pickett said he would be overspending his technology line by $250 to get the laptops, but his budget’s bottom line would remain under budget.

He said the laptops were needed to enable his officers to work from their cruisers more efficiently – filling out reports while in the field – rather than waiting until they drive back to the office.

Town Manager Nanci Allard, however, disagreed, saying Dixfield’s officers didn’t need laptops.

“I know that laptop computers in cruisers is the trend, but I don’t see the need here. They’re so near the station,” she said.

But, voters at last year’s town meeting approved an amendment to add $1,500 toward a Bureau of Highway Safety grant, allowing Pickett to purchase two laptop computers for cruisers.

Selectman Montell Kennedy then cut to the chase, saying, “It was approved at town meeting, so I don’t know what the problem is.”

Chairman Hugh Daley then gave Pickett permission to purchase the laptop computers.
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