The City of Crawfordsville on Monday requested an additional appropriation to pay for new police body cameras.
Crawfordsville Police is replacing its current fleet of cameras, which are reaching the end of their life expectancy, with newer models designed to begin recording automatically.
The cameras are manufactured by Georgia-based company Utility Associates, the same provider used by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. The Board of Public Works and Safety approved a six-year agreement with the company in May.
“In my opinion, this body-worn system is going to be the safest for our officers,” police chief Aaron Mattingly said.
The city requested about $100,000 in public safety income tax funds to pay for the first year of the recording service. Utility Associates is providing the cameras.
An additional $30,000 in PSIT funds was requested for new fencing at the former IMPEX site, which the city has acquired as a police K-9 training facility. The Louise Avenue-area site is set to host a national K-9 training event next year.
The City Council’s Fiscal Affairs Committee gave a favorable recommendation to the requests, which now go before the full council for approval.
The committee also sent on an ordinance renaming and repurposing the civil defense fund for body camera grant funds.
July’s council committees meeting will be held one day later, on July 6, due to the federal observance of Independence Day. The council will hold a workshop for the city’s 2022 budget at 6 p.m. July 19 in the City Building.
