Imperial PD to receive body cameras, new Tasers
IMPERIAL — The Imperial police officers will be outfitted for the first time with body-worn cameras with the delivery of new equipment with the help of the city’s cannabis funds.
The equipment is expected to arrive in four to six weeks and will include delivery of new Taser brand electroshock weapons.
The Imperial City Council unanimously approved the purchase of this new equipment during its regular council meeting on Wednesday.
“Imperial continues to lead the Valley in local law enforcement,” Imperial Police Department Chief Leonard J. Barra said. “It is important that my partners have every resource available to ensure their safety, promote transparency and build trust in our community. We are grateful that the Imperial City Council continues to invest in our department.”
IPD will be receiving 25 body-worn cameras. Although the department participated in a grant-funded pilot program for body-worn cameras in 2017, it was unable to purchase the equipment due to lack of funding, IPD Sgt. Max Sheffield explained.
IPD currently has eight X26 Tasers, which are no longer produced.
“These Tasers have not held up to meet the expectations of the department due to the age of them,” the department stated in its agenda item presented to the City Council.
The department will be
receiving 25 Taser 7s.
The body-worn cameras and the Tasers are part of a package deal with Axon Enterprises.
This deal also includes a trainer from Axon who will train personnel on the body-worn camera system.
The deal, in total, will cost $245,427.80. It will be billed in five annual installments.
The first annual payment will be $56,404.77. The following four annual payments will be $52,010.93.
This purchase will outfit every IPD officer with a body-worn camera and Taser.
Currently, the IPD has 14 full-time and two reserve police officers.
“The purchase of 25 cameras and Tasers will meet our current needs and projected growth within the department,” Sheffield said.
The first payment on the purchase will come from the city’s cannabis funds. The fund’s remaining balance after the payment will be $45,292.52.
“Through our community benefits partnership with March and Ash, we are now able to purchase and provide much needed equipment to our officers,” Sheffield said.
During Wednesday’s council meeting, Mayor Darrell Pechtl reflected on how the city discussed its desire to have cameras on all of its officers four years ago.
“So it’s nice to see that coming now this year,” he said. “It’s taken a while to get there, but the funding is there. I’m glad we can do it.”