Township police get new car and body cameras

By Lisa Brody

Bloomfield Township trustees unanimously approved a proposal to replace the current police in-car video system with an updated state-of-the-art system along with body worn cameras, for a five-year cost of $378,799.15, at their meeting on Monday, March 22.

Captain Jeff Nolan explained the proposal was to replace their current Panasonic in-car video system, which is now nine-years old. “The cameras, mics are starting to fail. It's at life cycle fail,” he said. “We are now looking to add body work cameras to the system.”

Nolan explained that with the changing climate in law enforcement for transparency, body worn cameras (BWC) are being required by departments in addition to the in-car video system. “The use of body cameras will enhance law enforcement professionalism during citizen contacts and provide transparency during those contacts. BWC's will be an effective means of protecting our organization from potential liability by recording events as they occur,” he said.

Over the last three months, the department has tested out and evaluated three different systems, and recommended they go with the system from AXON, which is used by 65 different police departments in Michigan, and comes with a five-year warranty, and is the only company with a website for cloud storage.

Nolan said their quote of $378,799.15 can be spread out over five years. Included in their quote, he said, is that at two-and-a-half years, they send new batteries to replace old ones.

Supervisor Dani Walsh said the cost is already budgeted for.

Trustee Michael Schostak asked what happens after year five, and Nolan said the equipment is the department's, to maintain or to upgrade.