AUBURN HILLS, MI – Chrysler Group has worked with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) to adapt the automaker’s Uconnect in-vehicle connectivity solution to meet the needs of law enforcement. Although police officers now have many more electronic tools to help them do their jobs, that equipment takes up space inside a patrol car.

Chrysler wanted to work with LAPD to give officers more space inside the Charger Pursuit patrol car, so the company’s engineers developed a 12.1-inch screen that is capable of displaying data, graphics, and video information used by law enforcement.

An officer can enter data into the system via a plug-in keyboard that stows away when the vehicle is in motion or isn’t occupied. The screen can also transition to reveal other vehicle controls, such as climate control.

The head of LAPD’s tactical technology section Lt. Dan Gonzalez worked with Chrysler’s Uconnect engineering group to develop the new display.

“The over-arching reason we’re involved in this is to provide a higher level of safety for the officer,” he said.

Chrysler stated it plans to put the system into three Charger Pursuit patrol cars, two of which will be deployed with the LAPD. Chrysler will keep the third vehicle for testing.

Unrelated to its law enforcement program, Chrysler is offering a free trial of its Uconnect Access system in specific 2013-MY vehicles, for example the Ram 1500. This free trial is open to fleet customers, according to Chrysler.