State-of-the-art technology coming to the Decatur Police Department
The body cameras and in-car video system that Decatur police officers currently use can be unreliable and inefficient. To provide our police officers with the best technology available, the city council will be voting on Monday on whether to replace our outdated, fragmented systems with new body cameras, in-car video, interview room recordings, and digital evidence systems from a single vendor, Axon, a company that is viewed as the national leader in public safety technology. In addition to having a single vendor for all these functions, the company provides additional products and services that ultimately, the police department may want to adopt.
The contract with Axon will be for $552,000 per year for five years. While not explicitly stated in the information provided in the agenda packet, it is expected that the 2025 police department budget will be able to cover the first-year costs, and that operational efficiencies using the new systems will offset future costs. For example, use of Axon systems allows automatic transcription of video and audio evidence saving police substantial amounts of time in evidence review.
Combining this state-of-the-art technology with access to the Macon County Law Enforcement Training Center and the growing number of police officers, the Decatur Police Department will continue to stand out as the best police department in the region and public safety will be enhanced. I am excited to support this expenditure in what will be Chief Brandel’s final appearance as police chief at a council meeting. Congratulations to Chief Brandel on his retirement and I wish him all the best.
WELCOME CONSUELO CRUZ TO THE DECATUR CITY COUNCIL
Monday’s city council meeting will be the first for newly elected councilmember Consuelo Cruz. It was a pleasure getting to know Consuelo during the campaign, and I look forward to working with her in the years to come.
PLEASE EXPRESS YOUR VIEWS AT THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING
The Decatur City Council will meet on Monday, May 5 at 5:30 PM in the council chambers located on the third floor of the Decatur Civic Center (1 Gary K. Anderson Place). Free parking is available in the lot immediately south of the entrance. Citizens are encouraged to attend meetings and express their views. Citizens are allotted 3 minutes per person near the beginning of each city council meeting. In addition, citizens can provide comments regarding one regular agenda item per meeting for up to three minutes provided they notify the city in advance (and prior to the start of the meeting). You can request to speak on a particular agenda item at a council meeting by filling out an on-line form at: https://www.decaturil.gov/FormCenter/Mayor-Council-11/Advance-Request-to-Speak-at-Council-Meet-60.
AGENDAS FOR CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE
An agenda and information about each agenda item for each city council meeting can be found at: https://www.decaturil.gov/mayor-and-council/council-meetings/.
CITIZENS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
If you would like to discuss city issues with a council member, phone numbers and email addresses for each council member can be found at the following link: https://www.decaturil.gov/300/Mayor-Council.