Compromise gives Port cops 14 new body cameras

The Port Washington Police Department will get 14 new body cameras next year, but the department will retain its current cameras for use when large events such as this past summer’s protests occur, City Administrator Tony Brown told the Police and Fire Commission Dec. 14.

And the city will continue to work toward the commission’s recommendation of 19 or 20 body cameras — one for every officer — as it moves forward, Brown said, an acknowledgement that the devices are “kind of standard fitting for an officer.”

“We’ll corroboratively work together to try to get to that 19 or 20,” Brown said. 

The commission in September recommended the city buy as many as 20 new cameras to replace the 10 cameras it currently has, calling it cheap insurance and noting the devices are invaluable when sorting out what happens when officers respond to a call.

The current cameras are nearing the end of their life, officials said.

But the number of replacement cameras was trimmed to the 10 Chief Kevin Hingiss originally recommended during budget deliberations, and officials said they may use thousands of dollars donated by community members and businesses for the cameras to offset that cost.

Brown told the commission Monday that was a “little bit of misinformation” and said that the donations would be used to supplement the city funds, noting the $5,000 in donations will fund about 3-1/2 cameras.

Money raised in the future for the cameras will also be used to buy additional units, he said.

The 14 cameras will cost the city $72,702, which will be paid over the next five years, Hingiss said.

That cost includes maintenance, tech support, replacement of any broken cameras and data storage. In addition, the department would receive new cameras after 2-1/2 years and five years.

Because the department will retain the existing 10 body cameras for use at times when every officer may need to wear them — particularly during large events such as Fish Day or the protests over racial injustices that occurred this summer — there will also be a cost of about $200 a month for maintenance and data storage, Brown said.

In addition to the cost, the downside of using the old cameras is that if the charging station breaks, they will be useless, he added.

Hingiss said he planned to order the new Axon cameras this week. The department should have them in January and, after officers are trained in their use, be put into use.

The new cameras have a number of features that the commission has touted as important. 

The cameras will be linked to the officer’s holster, and as soon as an officer would pull his gun or taser out, the camera would automatically begin recording.