The 34-foot-long, black-and-white vehicle was purchased with a $240,000 Homeland Security grant.

"I've never been prouder than today," Chief Bryan T. Norwood told officers gathered in the parking lot of Police Department headquarters, the gleaming command center parked behind them. "This is for you guys."

The vehicle can serve police as a base of operations and a dispatch center in the field.

"It's absolutely state of the art," Norwood said.

The vehicle has six work stations with radios that can monitor UHF, VHF and 800 MHz radio transmissions, as well as digital signals.

It can plug into land-based telephone lines or Voice over Internet Protocol service that uses standard phones over an Internet connection.

It also has an office with a computer and fax machine, and domestic amenities like a microwave, water cooler, bathroom and heating and air conditioning.

A camera that functions in low light, infrared and in color or black-and-white, is mounted atop an antenna that can reach 42 feet high. It can transmit a picture to a 42-inch plasma screen television inside the vehicle.

Norwood credited Sgt. John Cueto, of the department's Fiscal Services Division, and Deputy Chief Adam Radzmirski for working on the 13-month process to acquire the command center.

Police will roll out the vehicle publicly for this year's Barnum Festival and Puerto Rican Day parades, the Gathering of the Vibes concert in Seaside Park and at the Harbor Yard complex, the chief said, as well as any tactical situations.

Thomas L. Kanasky, chairman of the city's Board of Police Commissioners, expressed pleasure at the acquisition of the command center, built by LDV Inc. of Burlington, Wis.

"The technological advancement the chief is bringing to the department is long overdue," Kanasky said.

Deborah Caviness, an aide to Mayor John M. Fabrizi, thanked Norwood for "showing your leadership." Fabrizi could not attend because he has traveled to Los Angeles for the U.S. Conference of Mayors until Tuesday.

The van is a part of technological upgrading for the Police Department, including the addition of 63 new Dodge Charger and Magnum police cars, Tasers and prisoner transportation vans.

Also, a class of new officers, the first since 2002, will enter the new Police Academy on July 9.

Aaron Leo, who covers regional issues, can be reached at 330-6222.