NORWICH, CT – A customized cyber crime mobile command unit built by LDV, Inc. is heading for the City of Norwich Police Department. According to Chief of Police Louis Fusaro, the idea for a cyber crime unit came about when Congressman Rob Simmons acknowledged the good work the City of Norwich Police Department was doing with a limited Internet crime prevention budget. Simmons worked to develop federal funding for the project, which was completely funded by a Federal Earmark Grant. No local taxpayer funding was required for the purchase.

The department attempted to make the vehicle as versatile as possible, with the primary mission to conduct cyber/sexual predator investigations. The mobile unit will be used for training the general public and educating school-aged children regarding Internet safety. It will be taken to schools and civic organizations in order to make Internet safety presentations and give tours to increase awareness of Internet crime. Safety tips will be given to parents to help prevent their children from becoming victims of online sexual predators. The vehicle will also visit festivals, fairs, and other civic events for demonstrations to enhance public awareness.

The unit is powered by a Freightliner MT-55 with a Cummins ISB-02, 260-hp turbo-charged, diesel engine and an Allison 2200 EVS automatic transmission. It has a 25,500-lb. GVWR, and the 24-foot load space body is constructed of .125 inches of aluminum and a NFPA welded tread-plate roof.

The conference area has a 50-inch interactive plasma display, multiple DVD/VHS combination units, three 17-inch LCD flat screen TV/monitors, installation provisions for DSS satellite TV equipment, and a radio interoperability system capable of cross-connecting multiple different radio networks.