The Breezy Point Police Department has had squad car cameras
for a good number of years. These video systems have become outmoded so there
was a need for the replacement of the system, software and cameras. The existing system requires storage of video
files on our computer server serving the city as a whole taking up storage
space there. This was creating a need
for additional storage space of digital files.
A better solution was needed to addressing the older technology in
cameras and a storage solution for the videos.
After review of the options available a new camera system
and server was purchased in 2015. This
system provides for video storage and automatic downloads of the data on its
own system. A squad car replacement was accomplished
in 2015 that included a new camera system.
It uses the new video server system to store the video data. The
server and one camera system was all the budget could accommodate in 2015. The new camera system to outfit the remaining
squad cars was budgeted for 2016.
The change in systems provides a few benefits. The system is using new technology. The automatic downloads occur when the squad
car is close enough to the server to download wirelessly. With this type of exchange the possibility
of errors is almost eliminated. There is
no issue with the chain of evidence.
Having a dedicated server for car videos is a benefit in that all video
data is isolated from remaining data and it frees up space on the city computer
server dealing with other city functions.
Five video cameras were approved for purchase at a cost of
$25,465. These will be installed as soon
as possible.
