SHELBY - At its Oct. 14 meeting, the Shelby Village Council authorized the purchase of new equipment for the police department. The purchase will include two MDTs (Mobile Data Terminals), two in-car video units, and four body-worn camera units with the necessary storage, mounting hardware and service agreements for the police department. The lowest quote for the equipment came from GETAC from Midwest Public Safety and will cost the village $35,916. An additional $1,400 was approved for the mounting and installation of the new equipment.
The department’s current body cameras can no longer be serviced, and the program for storage can no longer be updated, Police Chief Dean Roesler told council. “In-car computers are between five and six years old, slow and cannot be updated either,” he said.
Roesler went on to say he has been researching the equipment since March. “I recognize this request is over the budgeted amount of $30,000. I would note that the village received a $2,500 “rebate” (for) the radio encryption project costs, as Mason Oceana Central Dispatch Authority agreed to cover the costs of the encryption process for the two new portable radios we purchased. The remaining costs ($4,816) could be covered by reallocation of some of the budgeted money for part-time police wages, or the current open, full-time budgeted position,” a memo from Roesler said.
Roesler had received bids from Motorola and Panasonic as well, however, they were much higher. “I have contacted five other agencies in Michigan that are using GETAC technology, and all five, including the City of Ludington, report no concerns with the quality of the products and services provided.”
In conclusion, Roesler assured the council the new equipment should meet the needs of Shelby for the next five years.
