Australian police officers in the state of New South Wales will be provided a new weapon of choice in protecting the streets -- a Samsung Galaxy Note 4.
The phablet device, which is larger than a traditional mobile phone, is being labelled as a "new era" in policing, according to NSW Police. The police force believes the rollout of 500 devices is "a significant step forward in real-time policing."
The devices will allow officers to do background checks and access police databases while on the beat. The phone will be provided to local and regional enforcement units plus the dog squad, gangs squad, the domestic violence teams along with transport, traffic and highway patrol.
The new technology will bring police up to speed with regular Australians -- allowing officers to capture photos, use the Internet, text and draw pictures take notes with their stylus.
“Policing can be a dangerous job and this device means officers can perform checks on the spot and gain operational information that could prove pertinent during high-risk situations," NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said in a statement. “The device will also save officers time by streamlining their daily duties as it eliminates the need for officers to return to their vehicle to access information."
It is currently in a trial phase -- if the use of devices is a success, the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 will be rolled out to other officers.