Why No NYPD GPS?

To the Editor:

Your latest story about the city's continuing implementation of GPS tracking (this time in Sanitation trucks), brings up the question, once again, of a significant oversight.

All the 911 ambulances, both FDNY-owned and private, are GPS-equipped. Access-a-Ride vehicles are similarly tracked. More and more of the general city government support units are monitored. Quite a few utility fleets and general commercial systems are using this.

Yet, to this day, I haven't seen a public proposal to implement this on the largest segment of the 911 vehicle fleet, namely the NYPD.

Knowledge of NYPD vehicle locations would greatly improve the police 911 response time. It would also be a critical protection if, as we're constantly warned, another terrorist attack is attempted.

Without GPS tracking, a commandeered NYPD car or truck would have the free run of the city, including most secure areas.

This is a major security hole, and I've got to wonder why it isn't being addressed.

DANNY BURSTEIN

Editor's note: The writer is a former Harlem paramedic.