Bedford police officers will become even more rugged than they already are when new computers are installed into police cruisers to better handle all the bumps in the road – including paperwork and communication.

The new ”Magnum” systems from Glacier Computers, a company specializing in building tough technology for fire, police and emergency vehicles, will provide several efficiencies for Bedford police officers, said Sgt. Scott Plumer.

“What we’re trying to do is keep guys out on the street where they need to be,” said Plumer.

The computers will be installed Friday, April 4, in each of the department’s seven patrol vehicles. The metal-cased, touchscreen computers mount right into the dashboard, unlike the current Dell Latitude laptops in Bedford’s cruisers. The current systems sit on a stand over the console and could become projectiles should the cruisers’ air bags deploy in an accident, Plumer said.

They also come equipped with external fans, so they won’t overheat like computers with fans on the inside often do. But above all, Plumer said, the computers facilitate reports, allowing officers to link up to the police department’s data system and file reports from the road.

Information from one report can also be automatically copied into another one easily, saving time on data entry for things that are often included in all reports. For a two-car motor vehicle accident, Plumer said, officers will save about half an hour for the time it took them before to come to the station and fill out the report.

The screens on the Glacier systems are also back-lit, reducing glare during bright days and providing ample light at night for better reading.

Bedford Police Capt. Dan Douidi said the computers cost about $5,300 each for a total cost of about $37,000 for the seven units. The department saved some money from last year’s budget to help purchase the updated technology, he said.

Along with being stronger and more durable, the Magnums are completely compatible with the current information system and have a lot more memory, making it easier to fill in police call logs. With potholes plaguing the state’s roads, the superbrawny Magnum computers should help alleviate problems that can arise when electronic devices are travelling in a vehicle, particularly at high rates of speed, weaving through traffic and making frequent stops. “This is just what they’re made for, they’re just tougher,” Douidi said.