(KNZA)--The Brown County Sheriffs office has been awarded a more than $37,000 grant from federal criminal justice funding.

Sheriff John Merchant announced the grant award Monday, which will require a 10 percent match or about $4,000 to obtain.

Merchant says the grant will be used to install mobile data units in each of the patrol vehicles, which will allow officers the ability to complete reports immediately following an accident or call where an incident has been created.

Merchant says that not only allows for better recall of information from the officer, but will let the officer complete his or her paperwork in the county instead of having to come back to the sheriff’s office to complete it.

In addition, he says in case of severe weather, the units will have up-to-date radar maps available.  Also deputies will have the ability to obtain vehicle license information in the event dispatch is tied up with emergency traffic.

MDU's have been used by other law enforcement entities for a number of years.

Brown County Safety Resource Officer J.D. Clary wrote the grant application and learned of the grant award at a meeting last week.