Agenda

Back to Calendar Return

ARF- 3713

Regular Agenda Item 2. A.

Regular BOS Meeting

Meeting Date:	05/03/2016
Submitted For:	Jeff Hessenius	Submitted By:	Jeannie Sgroi, Contracts Administrator
Department:	Finance
Fiscal Year:	2016	Budgeted?:	Yes
Contract Dates Begin & End:	03-16-16 to 06-30-16	Grant?:	No
Matching Requirement?:	No	Fund?:	Renewal

Information

Request/Subject

Purchase dash cameras to equip Gila County Sheriff's Office patrol units.

Background Information

The Gila County Sheriff's Office included the cost for the dash cameras for twelve patrol units in its 2015-2016 budget.

Evaluation

The Gila County Sheriff's Office would like to equip twelve patrol units with dash cameras. There is an increasing use in dash cameras due to the compelling evidence that video records present to the viewer. Video recorded evidence leads to criminal convictions in trial and pre-trail plea agreements, saving precious hours in court. The recorded evidence from the dash cameras can save an officer's career when they are faced with allegations of misconduct, or it can justify the termination of an officer.

The dash cameras also go a long way in the spirit of building public trust. The dash camera recording provides an un-biased account of events that allow citizens and others to view what actually occurred during encounters that have been called into question.

In a 2002 national study of the impact that dash cameras have on patrol units and the communities they serve, the study showed that the single greatest value of the dash camera is the positive impact that it has on officer safety. Officers have the ability to review how they approach each situation and take mental notes of any officer safety issues they discover, such as turning their backs on a potentially dangerous individual, or allowing themselves to be distracted by other persons or events. The cameras have proven to be a valuable tool when communicating to a citizen that a camera is recording the incident, it can deescalate situations that are becoming confrontational, thereby improving officer safety. Additionally, the dash camera footage can be used as a means of self-critique for officers and their actions.

The footage provides the ability to quote exact statements for report writing. Especially in the realm of consent searches, this enables the officers to better prepare cases for presentation in a courtroom, where they may need to recount how they established probable cause for enforcement actions.

Conclusion

In today's environment, it makes sense to use viable tools to help ensure the safety of the public and the safety of police officers. It also makes financial sense to utilize resources that reduce man hours spent in investigating and court trials.

Recommendation

It is the recommendation of the Finance Director and the Gila County Sheriff to authorize utilizing a U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) contract to purchase twelve dash cameras to install on police units.

Suggested Motion

Information/Discussion/Action to authorize the purchase of twelve WatchGuard dash cameras from Computech International through U.S. General Services Administration Contract No. GS-35F-0186P in the amount of $66,981.50. (Jeff Hessenius/Adam Shepherd)

Attachments
Contract Agreement Form-Computech International
GSA Contract Modification #32
GS-35F-0186P
GSA Approved Item - WatchGuard Video
Attorney Comments