Oklahoma cops filing reports from patrol cars

The Oklahoma Department of Public Safety recently outfitted 50 of the state's

highway patrol cars with software that enables troopers to file accident

report forms and daily activity reports from the field.

The FormRunner software, developed by IBM Corp., is part of a system that

enables Oklahoma Highway Patrol officers to completely fill out collision

reports and their accompanying forms from their cars, as well the department's

individual activity report.

The system provides workflow for approval, revision and storage of reports

completed in FormRunner. The troopers can also complete their reports while

they are disconnected from the system and electronically file them later

from their barracks, homes or ODPS headquarters in Oklahoma City.

"We have already seen a noticeable increase in efficiency, and we expect

to see more," Lt. Jeff Elliott, who oversees the program, said in a release.

"The reports are more accurate, the approval process will be much faster

and we are reducing paper and eliminating handwritten entries."

The ODPS plans to expand the program later in the year.

Other agencies using FormRunner include: the Arkansas State Police; the

Missouri State Highway Patrol; Hamilton County, Ohio; the North Carolina

State Highway Patrol; and several local North Carolina police departments.