Title
Consider/Discuss/Act on a Resolution Authorizing the Purchase of 57 WatchGuard In-Car Camera Systems and 15 CopVu Wearable Cameras
Summary
MEETING DATE: May 7, 2013
DEPARTMENT: Department of Information Technology & Police
CONTACT: Joe Williams, Chief of Police
Chris Chiancone, Chief Information Officer
RECOMMENDED CITY COUNCIL ACTION:
· Approval of Resolution
ITEM SUMMARY:
· Purchase of 57 In-Car Camera Systems and 15 CopVu wearable cameras for Police
- Items available for purchase from WatchGuard Video, LLC of Allen, Texas through Houston Galveston Area Council (HGAC) contract EF04-13
- WatchGuard, is a Texas based in-car video surveillance system that services nearly 1/3 of all law enforcement agencies. This system with significantly increase our operations, while improving the quality of video and usability to various courts, judges, and council. Some of the features include
- Record-After-the-Fact, increasing our ability to catch events while decreasing the likely hood of missed evidence.
- High Definition Solution, allows us to capture highly contested events (DUI) in High Definition, decreasing the amount of unrecognizable evidence and increasing investigative quality.
- High Fidelity Wireless Audio, allows for better understanding of conversations on the video, decreasing the amount of unrecognizable evidence and increasing investigative quality.
- Mobile DVD Authoring, allows us to accommodate court requests for DVD evidence, decreasing mistrials and increasing quality of evidence.
- Lightweight out of Car Solution, allowing full in car features in a wearable profile. Used for motorcycle, horseback, and student resource officers.
- Chapter 791 of the Texas Government Code, Interlocal Cooperation Contracts, authorizes cities to make purchases utilizing cooperative contracts such as the ones available through the Houston Galveston Area Council (HGAC) contracts
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
- Currently, the City of McKinney uses an older and antiquated in-car-video system that is cumbersome, difficult to administer, and makes it difficult to perform many necessary intra-agency job functions. We have fielded numerous complaints from officers, command staff, council, judges, and court systems; about our current solution and the difficulties it presents during evidentiary discovery, trial, and conviction. Moving to the WatchGuard system will modernize our fleet with state of the art in-car and wearable camera systems; yielding increased operational performance and decreased risk to evidentiary deficiencies.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY:
· Funding is available in the following accounts:
- Technology Improvement Fund - $180,930.80
- Law Enforcement Fund - $96,658.80
BOARD OR COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
· N/A