Body cam allocation ires police commission

The Port Washington Police and Fire Commission on Monday reiterated its belief that the city’s police force needs 19 body cameras — one for each officer — not the 10 replacement cameras included in the city’s proposed 2021 budget.

The body cameras, Commission Chairman Rick Nelson said, are essential equipment for police.

“A camera should be just as important to have on an officer as a gun or radio,” Nelson said. “It’s so important we document everything. I think a camera is so important we can’t afford not to have them in the environment we’re in.”

Commission members also expressed concern that the almost $4,000 in donations it received toward the cameras is expected to be used to offset the cost of the 10 cameras, not pay for additional devices.

The police department was one of the first in the area to equip officers with body cameras in 2012, and it is still using that same system. 

Commission member Ed Johnson appeared at the Common Council meeting Tuesday to petition for the additional body cameras.

“It’s kind of standard issue in this day,” he said. 

The additional cameras are probably  most needed during large events such as the protests for racial justice held this summer, when all the 19 members of the department are on duty, Johnson said, adding it would be “tragic” if an incident occurred during such an event and the officer didn’t have a body camera.

Police Chief Kevin Hingiss asked the Police and Fire Commission in September to buy 10 new cameras at a cost of $27,000, which includes maintenance of the device, technical support, replacement of any broken cameras and storage of the data.

The five-year cost of the cameras — including maintenance, replacement of broken units, data storage, licensing fees, system upgrades, docking stations and sidearm kits — is $91,700, Hingiss said. The fee also includes the replacement of the cameras after 2-1/2 and five years.

But the commission recommended buying as many as 20 new body cameras so every officer would have one. The cameras provide an unbiased eye that can provide evidence in a court case or invaluable information if accusations are made against an officer.

But as the city administration compiled the 2021 budget, officials reduced the number of cameras to 10 — the same number of cameras the department has today.

“For the little bit of money we’re talking here, it’s foolish not to do the 19,” commission member Terry Tietyen said. “The insurance they provide is incalculable.”

The Covid-19 pandemic is yet another reason the department should have a camera for each officer, Tietyen said, noting the department should minimize shared equipment as much as possible.

Members asked Hingiss if the department could do the job with only 10 cameras.

“There aren’t a lot of days we have everybody on board and everyone should have a camera,” Hingiss said. 

But, he added, “I can’t guarantee” the additional units won’t be needed.

The times the cameras are needed, such as the protests for racial justice held in Port this summer, are occasions when the city’s full slate of officers are on duty, Johnson said. At those times, the department needs more than 10 cameras.

Ald. Dan Benning, a member of the Finance and License Committee who was at Monday’s meeting, said that he depends on the chief’s opinions in making decisions.

“I trust him implicitly to tell me what their priorities are,” Benning said. “How many times do we use 19 or 20 (cameras)?”

Commission members were also upset when Benning told them that the funds donated for the cameras would likely offset the cost of the 10 devices, not go toward additional units.

“The donors gave money to try and go above that amount ...  the difference between 10 and 20,” Johnson said. “I think a donor would be very upset to learn this was going toward the (first 10 devices).”

Benning noted that the donations would not cover the cost of even one additional camera over five years.

But Johnson told the Common Council on Tuesday that the cost difference is only about $5,000 annually. 

The donations come close to covering that amount for the first year, he said, and if the city can’t find $5,000 for them in subsequent years it can fundraise for them.

That position was supported Monday by commission member Jennifer Clearwater, who said she supports getting 20 cameras but added that the additional units can be purchased through grants and a fund-raising campaign.

“We can start with the 10 and fundraise for the rest,” she said.

Benning said he would bring the matter of the donations back to the Finance and License Committee to clarify whether they would be spent on the 10 initial cameras or additional units.