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<br />Public Safety Commission <br />February 27, 2017 <br /> <br /> <br />Attending: Commissioner Allen, Commissioner Boyd, Commissioner Donohue, <br />Commissioner Eichers, Commissioner Hollimon, Commissioner Howard, <br />Commissioner Lamp, Commissioner Schumann, Council Member Strub, <br />Director Paetznick, Sergeant Singer, and Dave Matteson (Allina Health) <br /> <br />Absent: Commissioner Anderson, Commissioner Conway <br /> <br /> <br />Call to Order/Roll Call <br /> <br />Commissioner Allen called the February 27, 2017 meeting to order at 6:30 pm and roll call was <br />taken. <br /> <br />January Meeting Minutes <br /> <br />The January meeting minutes were reviewed. Commissioner Hollimon made a motion to approve the <br />January meeting minutes; Commissioner Eichers seconded. Motion carried. <br /> <br />Public Hearing/Presentation <br />A. Police Worn Body Cameras – Sergeant Mitch Singer <br /> <br />Sgt. Mitch Singer noted that Pillar 3 of the 21st Century Policing report is Technology & Social <br />Media with one of the recommended actions being the use of body cameras. Last year, the legislature <br />passed a bill on body cameras with guidance from the League of MN Cities. <br /> <br />Sgt. Singer led a technology group; which included two patrol officers, someone from the City IT <br />department, and himself. They started about 1 ½ years ago looking at body camera options. This is <br />the first of many steps in considering and potentially implementing a body worn camera system for <br />New Brighton police officers. <br /> <br />Currently, the squad car cameras are about 13 years old, are no longer available, and we are <br />experiencing technical issues with this equipment. In looking at new equipment, important features <br />include: integrated systems (squad car cameras integrate with body cameras), simple functions, 12- <br />hour battery life, ease of charging, ease of classifying, redaction capabilities, durability, easily worn, <br />pre-recording capabilities, and simple and fast data upload. <br /> <br />The technology group looked at five different vendors with Panasonic being the recommended <br />vendor. There was discussion and questions regarding data privacy, camera clarity and audio quality, <br />and how the police officers feel about this. Most of the questions presented will be future policy <br />decisions and not a part of the presentation. Director Paetznick noted our police officers know this is <br />the future of policing and they are doing the right things now; the bod y worn cameras will just <br />confirm this. <br /> <br />Commissioner Donohue inquired if grants are available to help with the cost. Director Paetznick <br />noted there are some grants out there and we have been setting money aside already in anticipation of <br />replacing the squad car cameras.