The Blytheville Police and Fire Committee gave Police Chief Ross Thompson the green light to purchase AXON body-worn cameras from TASER International, Monday night.
The company provided a quote of $8,970 for 30 cameras, which are $299 each at an introductory rate.
The Police Department will pay for the equipment with the $12,600 Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) it received in August 2012.
"I'm going to try to get the biggest bang for our buck," Thompson said, noting the BPD may have to add a server for data storage. "I'm going to try to get it as close to spending every penny in that grant as I can and get as much equipment as I can, so whether it's 30, 35 of them. There's a couple of different styles so the exact amount, I'm not sure yet. But he gave us a quote on 30 of them. There is no price break on them so if I order 1 it's the same as if I order 100."
The chief wants to outfit every officer with a body-worn camera, particularly those on patrol, who are the first to respond to the scene. The department is staffed at 41 officers.
The cameras have a 1-minute pre-event feature, which records 1 minute prior to the officer activating the device.
Officers can Bluetooth the footage to their smartphones for review in their cars.
Thompson noted officers have tested the AXON cameras and the devices have already proven beneficial in an incident.
"We actually captured one where a lady was claiming that the officer raped her," he said. "The video clearly showed that was as fake and false as could be. The lady literally starts flopping on the ground and yelling and screaming. And our officers are faced with that daily. And it's wrong. People try to take advantage of it. I think this is insurance for them. I think those officers need to be able to go out; when they do right, then we need to be able to support them. If they do wrong, then we'll have some information here."
Also Monday night, Thompson showed committee members a few new features on the BPD website.
He guided them through some alternative reporting options -- upgrades to the site that the chief believes will enhance police service.
The website allows citizens to file some police reports online; enables business owners to fill out a shoplifting report at their convenience; and offers landlords failure-to-vacate forms.
Along with those new features, there is general information on those crimes as well as state statutes related to the reports.
Thompson emphasized that the web reporting option will not replace services the BPD offers; it simply expands the ability to serve the community.
Meanwhile, with the arrival of the severe weather season, Fire Chief Mike Carney reported that citizens are taking advantage of the weather radio and smoke detector programs. In recent weeks, the Fire Department has given away around 30 weather radios and 12 smoke detectors, he said.
"Requests have increased significantly in the last few weeks," Carney said.
The department has added a question to the weather radio application, asking the caller if he or she has a storm shelter and if it's indoor.
The intent is to allow the Fire Department to locate the resident in case of a disaster.
"If their house got damaged, we wouldn't know they were in there," Carney said. "They might be trapped and their cell phones might be out. So we're asking about that."
Code Enforcement is also asking those with new construction projects to contact the Fire Department if they plan to have storm shelters. Carney asks that other residents with storm shelters notify the department as well.
Also, Carney reported that the BFD is looking into the cost for a generator at the Franklin and Main fire station.
Entergy is performing a load study to determine what size generator the station would need. Firemen have been limited to portable generators in past outages, and the new one would have a transfer switch that automatically kicks in once power is lost.
Carney believes a diesel generator might be the best alternative, though Councilman Stan Parks, chairman of the committee, has concerns with that option. Parks questioned how long the fuel additive would be effective in the tank because the generator likely wouldn't be used often.; firemen would test the generator once a week.
Carney noted the Water Department's generator is powered by propane. The chief plans to look at all options.
Carney also reported that BFD has received 17 applications thus far for the two open firefighter positions. He expects testing to begin in the next few weeks. He noted the department handed out several applications at the recent job fair at ANC and he is giving potential firemen time to send those in before testing. He hopes to have about 25 applicants. The department tests once a year and keeps the list for one year to fill openings as they become available.
In other Fire Department news, Entergy will be conducting a Sparks and Arcs class on April 22 to inform firemen of the dangers that electricity can present to an emergency responder. Also, in May, the Fire Department will host a class called "Operation Life Saver," which will involve train and rail safety. One class will be for the general public and the other specific to the Fire Department. He noted there are several blind spots around town at railroad tracks.
Meanwhile, Thompson reported that two officers graduated from the academy on April 11 and they are now back on shift.
Thompson also noted the Council has not approved petty cash for Code Enforcement and he plans to return that money to the general fund. He said auditors recommend the city either approves a resolution or return the money to the general fund. He added auditors will be in Blytheville soon.
Also Monday night, Councilman Tommy Abbott, chairman of the Finance and Purchasing Committee, went over the departments' respective budgets.
Both departments are on pace to be under budget this year.
mbrasfield@blythevillecourier.com