Baltimore police will soon carry a new weapon in the fight against crime - Blackberries equipped with applications that will allow them to pull up court records, vehicle registrations, warrant information and mug shots. The city's spending board approved Wednesday a $1.5 million, one-year contract with Bio-Key International to purchase and maintain the devices for all officers on the force. Western District officers have been testing the devices, known as "Pocket Cops," for several months, and found them very useful, Mayor Sheila Dixon said at the Board of Estimates on Wednesday. The officers were able to obtain "hands-on, real-time" information with the devices and found them a "great tool," she said.

- Julie Scharper