The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

( :ommunication during situations like hostage negotiations or emergency disasters was made easier for local police last week with the unveiling of a brand new mobile command unit at Waterâ€" loo regional police headquarters. "We reqdire a command centre that is mobile so we can direct the officers at a cerâ€" tain call," said Insp. Dennis Cullen. The mobile unit, which Cullen described as an "office on wheels," will be used by the service‘s Special Response Unit for major tactical calls, like homicide cases or hostage and negotiation s{tuations, at major crime scenes or for missing person calls. It will also be used during RIDE proâ€" grams and at large community events, such as the upcoming RCMP Musical Ride in Cambridge. The unit is equipped with multiple comâ€" munication systems, including an interacâ€" tive smart board. Staff Sgt. Greg Lamport gave the regional police services board members a demonâ€" stration recently of what the smart board can do. Street maps can be displayed on the interactive screen and officers can use Mercedes Benz Dealer Authorized Regional police unveil new mobile command vehicle Meticulous Restoration Original Paint Finishes Unsurpassed Collision Repair 15 Centennjal Dr. Kitchener 519â€"5780â€"2052 By Meussa Hancock For the Chronicle Waterloo regional police‘s new mobile command unit gets a shine before police service board members toured the vehicle yesterday at headquarters. â€" markers to write down and track something like a suspect‘s last known location. Also equipped with an external video camera with significant zoom capabilities that extends high into the air, another www.crosbyaudi.com ROSBY 1175 Weber St. E., Kitchener screen inside the unit displays the live video footage. â€" â€" â€" Lamport also told board members that the smart board can be used as a television for officers to watch things like local news AUDI MELISSA HANCOCK PHOTO 519â€"894â€"9300 WATERLOO CHRONICLE + Wednesday, April 30, 2008 « 1 The 41â€"foot long mobile unit â€" which has so far been used during five incidents in Waterloo Region â€"â€" is capable of extending out its sides to enlarge the inside working area. ; channels. There are seven work stations and threg work areas for command staff, investigators and support staff. The dieselâ€"powered unit cost the police, service about $470,000, which includes all, the equipment inside, noted Cullen. a The regional police service‘s old mobile command unit â€" obtained from the Pee} Region Police Service â€" was recently retired. P That amount was part of a recent capital budget plan. _ _ o f Chief Matt Torigian toured the unit recently with board members and, in a, statement, said: "This command vehicle, allows our members the accessibility to, respond to major policing functions with all the support required to provide the highest. level of policing to our citizens. § The new one is expected to last between, 15 and 20 years, confirmed Cullen. _ & "It is a mobile police station, equipped, with stateâ€"ofâ€"theâ€"art technology. â€" "The.command vehicle is a significant investment in public safety." '