Title
Resolution - A Resolution Authorizing the City Manager and the Police Department to Make Application, Receive, and Expend Grant Funding from the Criminal Justice Division of the Governor's Office of the State of Texas for Body Worn Cameras for Licensed Police Officers, the Amount of the Award will not Exceed $215,000 and Requires a 20% Match
Requested Action
Approval of Resolution
Recommendation
Approval of Resolution
Description/History
The goal of the Criminal Justice Division (CJD) is to provide needed funding to improve public safety and support victims of crime by addressing system gaps and promoting innovative solutions to common problems. CJD is accepting applications for the purchase of body cameras and digital storage systems to serve as a tool in law enforcement comprehensive problem-solving approach to enhance officer interactions with the public, build community trust, and gather important evidence for use in the prosecution of crimes.
Justification
Body cameras, while relatively new to some departments, have been a standard part of an officers uniform since 2011 here with the Mansfield Police Department (MPD). MPD was one of the first departments to equip each officer with a body camera within Texas back in 2011. The recording system provides additional eyes at any given time with each contact an officer makes. The video recordings have been instrumental by increasing conviction rates of criminals on cases filed with our local District Attorney's Office.
The Mansfield Police Department equipped all police officers with body cameras in April 2011. The department implemented this system along with individual training of body camera use and department policies. The cameras purchased in 2011 were one of the first models that were available to police departments. While these cameras have served a purpose and have provided a positive impact to the department and the community it serves, these cameras like other technology is now at the end of shelf life and needs to be replaced.
The current camera system has had a positive impact on the department by allowing officers to download files at the end of their shifts and while most transfers happen seamlessly, more and more times than not, the system is failing during the download time. Additional issues include:
*current cameras are reaching their end of life
*current cameras are out of production and are no longer supported by the vendor
*current download is tedious and time consuming for the officer taking away from time spent on patrols
*captured footage is not viewable in the field
*damaged cameras can no longer be maintained thus loaner cameras have to be leased
Funding Source
Reinbursement by the Criminal Justice Division CJD of the State of Texas through the State Governor's Office.
Prepared By
Alma Roden, Legal Assistant/Grant Mgr.
for Tracy Aaron, Chief of Police