New round of body cameras coming for GPD

Thursday, August 27, 2020

More than once, someone has insinuated they were treated less than hospitably by local police officers.

But thanks to dash cameras in their cars and body cameras for each Greencastle City Police officer, those initial complaints were easily laid to rest, City Police Chief Tom Sutherlin told the Board of Works at its recent meeting.

The original body cameras, purchased with funds obtained by Putnam County Prosecutor Tim Bookwalter and his office, have done wonders to exonerate city officers of unsubstantiated claims and help ensure transparency for the community, Sutherlin said.

The cameras are rolling at every stop or at every incident involving a Greencastle City Police officer.

The cameras have cut down officer complaints, Sutherlin said, noting that if someone comes in to question an officer’s actions, he reminds them, “You know, we have body cameras and cameras in our cars.”

That usually results in the complainant walking away without pressing the issue. The cameras have helped tremendously in building trust, the chief noted.

“More than ever in today’s society you need to wear them,” he added.

But with the current body cameras now six years old and reaching the end of their projected shelf life, Sutherlin offered a $123,942 proposal to replace the cameras through Axon Enterprises, Scottsdale, Ariz.

Each of the 17 regular city officers and eight reserves will be outfitted with new cameras. At the end of 25 months and again at 49 months, Axon will provide 25 more new cameras.

“At the end of five years we’ll have 75 cameras owned by the City of Greencastle,” Sutherlin said of the five-year contract that features a $50,430 first-year payment through the Public Safety Local Income Tax program. Each succeeding year will be an $18,378 cost.

“Maybe at the end of five years we can just renew the contract for software since we’ll own the cameras,” Chief Sutherlin said.

Mayor Bill Dory praised the department for how well it has maintained the current body camera program.

“GPD has been kind of a poster child for camera use,” he said. “Officers really take care of them.”

Board member Trudy Selvia made the motion to approve the $123,942 contract with Axon, which was approved unanimously.

It should take about four weeks to receive the new equipment, Sutherlin said.

GPD is saving everything captured by the current cameras to the Cloud, he said, speculating that the police department likely will have 90 days to retrieve all of that information.

In other business, the Board of Works:

-- Approved a proposal by Curry & Associates, Danville, for a sum not to exceed $39,000 for engineering services and inspection relative to repainting of the city’s water tower near Forest Hill Cemetery.

Lori Young of Curry said an inspection done in 2016 showed the tank was in “really good condition at the time.” She said it would be best to drain the tank and wash it down inside before the new coating is done.

Department head Oscar King Jr. was asked how the plant is operated when the tank is drained. He said the plant would “work off the pressure in the system.”

Young, however, noted that a “blow-off hydrant” may be needed “so we don’t overtax the pumps.” She said it should take a couple days to drain the tank and two or three days for cleaning.

“Then we have to disinfect and re-chlorinate and get a couple of good samples before we put it back in service.”

”That work will be “several hundred thousand dollars,” she said, responding to a cost question on the actual repainting work.

The inspection work should take place prior to Oct. 31 in order to prepare specs and go out for bids.

-- Approved a $41,700 contract with Culy Contracting, Winchester, for manhole cover replacement. King said the idea is to do 30 this year and then replace “a few every year” until they are all done.

Manhole repair/replacement hasn’t been done in years, King said, noting that there are approximately 1,000 manholes across the city.

“When it rains, water gets in through the manhole,” King said. “We’ll concentrate in the older part of town. That’s where the worst ones are.”

Mayor Dory pointed out that the manhole work, in addition to helping provide a smoother driving experience when going over them, “has I and I benefits, too.”

I and I is infiltration and inflow, i.e. excess water that flows into sewer pipe from groundwater and stormwater and decreases the efficiency of treatment.

-- Approved a street paving contract with Wabash Valley Asphalt, Terre Haute, for $284,033. Wabash Valley was the lowest of the three bidders on the project and submitted a proposal that was below engineers’ estimates, Mayor Dory said.

The Board of Works will next meet in regular session at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16 at City Hall.

Mayor Dory and Selvia were joined for the August meeting by fellow board member Craig Tuggle, along with City Attorney Laurie Hardwick, City Councilor Stacie Langdon, Chief Sutherlin, Ed Phillips and King.

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  • *

    Ummm...it wasn't Bookwalter's money. It wasn't the Prosecutor's office money.

    It was state(govt)-sanctioned theft of private property via civil asset forfeiture.

    Bookwalter is a thief. A state(govt)-sanctioned thief so he can pretend it's legitimate, but a thief nonetheless.

    If any of you don't know how this works:

    Cops pull you over.

    You have a large amount of money on you. (For whatever reason, ain't nobody's business but your own.)

    Cops say "we think this is drug money", and confiscate it.

    Prosecutor initiates civil asset forfeiture where the owner of the money (the person it was stolen from) has to prove where they got the money from and prove that it was legal. (A complete reversal of "innocent until proven guilty".)

    Prosecutor keeps the money and divides it up between the state, the local cops, and the prosecutors office so they all get their cut of the stolen money.

    This keeps them all dirty and on the same page...

    -- Posted by dreadpirateroberts on Fri, Aug 28, 2020, at 10:01 AM
  • Cameras on all our police officers is mandatory for everyone's safety. Money well spent!

    Senior Townee

    -- Posted by senior townee on Fri, Aug 28, 2020, at 10:34 AM
  • *

    Senior Townee - Yes, I would agree that camera's are a good investment.

    For the most part they keep everyone honest.

    -- Posted by dreadpirateroberts on Fri, Aug 28, 2020, at 11:24 AM
  • If they leave them on all the time and not turn them off when it is convenient for them depending on the situation.

    -- Posted by donantonio on Fri, Aug 28, 2020, at 5:18 PM
  • -- Posted by techphcy on Fri, Aug 28, 2020, at 9:05 PM
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