Danville Police GPS Systems

   DANVILLE -  One Central Illinois city could use technology to make sure it's police officers stay safe when danger strikes. Danville Police looked into placing GPS systems in all of their patrol cars in the past, but say the recent shootings in Champaign and Arcola have renewed the push.
  Police in Danville say they want to make sure what happened to deputy Tommy Martin last week near Arcola does not happen to one of their officers. Police say they want to be able to pinpoint an officer if he should need assistance and GPS gives them that capability.
  Right now an officer has to call in his present location. But if something was to happen, he could end up blocks from there. Police say it is a matter of safety "If something should go down that is harmful and the safety of the officer is involved the operators have a quick way of responding to the cars nearest to the location," says Danville Public Safety Director, Larry Thomason.
  Thomason says right now the plan is still being discussed. He doesn't know when they could be installed.
  Champaign and Urbana police say right now they have no plans to install such a system here. All of their communications currently go through Champaign County 911 system. They say any change would have to be county wide.