Police department looking to upgrade body cameras

The Gluckstadt Police Department hopes to switch providers for the department’s body cameras.

Police Chief Barry Hale told aldermen at their last meeting that the body cameras used by the department have proved to be unreliable. 

Hale said they have already had to replace seven cameras due to defective batteries. The department has around 15 body cameras.

The batteries pose “both functional and safety risks,” Hale said.

Hale said body-worn cameras are a boon to the police department. He said they help with investigations and offer clear evidence in the case of complaints against an officer. Hale most fo the time that evidence vindicates the officer.

Hale said another issue has been an unreliable mechanism that starts the cameras, leading to lost footage or outright failure to capture footage.

Hale said the provider Utility has also been slow to respond to requests for quotes on car-mounted cameras.

The city currently has a 5-year contract with Utility. They have two years and a balance of $29,700 left on the contract, Hale told aldermen

City Attorney John Scanlon said the contract could be voided when a new board is installed in July if the city wants to terminate the contract.

Hale said he would like to switch to Motorola which already provides the dispatch system, car radios and handheld radios for the department. Hale said this would ensure the cameras were smoothly integrated into the system.

Hale said he would look at what it would take to get out of the contract, get quotes for other systems, and look into grant opportunities for the board to consider at a later date.

Gluckstadt Police will begin handling their own dispatch next month. Hale said their dispatch system is set to go live on June 3.