R2020-158 Resolution Authorizing the Purchase of Additional Body Cameras for Decatur Police Department Detectives

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Police Department DATE: 10/19/2020 MEMO: 20-12 TO: The Honorable,Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe City Council Members FROM: Scot Wrighton,City Manager James E. Getz Jr.,Chief of Police SUBJECT: Request of the expenditure of DUI funds to CDS Office Technologies for the purchase of additional Panasonic Body-Warn cameras for Decatur Police Department Detectives. SUMMARY RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the council approve the expenditure$34,177.00 to purchase additional body worn cameras and equipment to be provided to all detectives. BACKGROUND: The City of Decatur Police Department has recognized the need for and value of Body-Worn cameras in Law Enforcement to capture accurate video and audio evidence as well as to accurately depict Police contact with Citizens. Further,the Police Department has recognized the value in having Body-Worn cameras in the mitigation of complaints against police officers. The Police Department,with Council approval,purchased body cameras for all sworn patrol officers and members of the Emergency Response Team earlier in 2020. All patrol officers and members of the Emergency Response Team have been issued and are currently using the body cameras. We purchased extra cameras for the detectives to use under certain circumstances,but these were to be signed out as needed as we did not purchase cameras at that time for each detective.At the time of the purchase,it was not common in policing for detectives to regularly wear body cameras. However,2020 proved to be a year where the Department bad to put Detectives out in uniform to support the patrol division. COVID,civil unrest,civil rights marches and gatherings required us to activate the Detectives and put them in uniform for patrol duties. We expect this to be the trend for 2021 and into the future,thus we believe it is in the best interest of the City,the Police Department,the Officers and the Citizens to provide a body camera to each detective as well. PRIOR COUNCIL ACTION: Authorized the purchase of body cameras and high definition in-car cameras in 2019 for the patrol officers and the emergency response team. POTENTIAL OBJECTIONS: None anticipated INPUT FROM OTHER SOURCES: none STAFF REFERENCE: James. E. Getz Jr. Chief of Police BUDGET/TIME IMPLICATIONS: $34,177.00 from DUI funds which allows for the purchase of police equipment. ATTACHMENTS: Description Type Staff Report Cover Memo Resolution Letter Resolution Letter Exhibit A Exhibit