Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – Thanks to outside funding, the Presque Isle Police Department now has five camera units for use by officers on patrol.
“At very little expense to the department, we were able to obtain five systems for use in our patrol vehicles,” said Chief Naldo Gagnon, of the PIPD.
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
GOING HIGH-TECH – The Presque Isle Police Department now has the capability of recording audio and visual material when responding to a call or making a traffic stop. The department has begun installing camera units in patrol vehicles that are capable of capturing both sound and visual data that serves as supporting documentation of the incident. Here, Sgt. Joey Seeley – seen through the windshield and on the camera screen above the mirror – stops a vehicle for an obstructed license plate.
It took over a year for the department to obtain the equipment, with work on the project dating back as far as March 2006.
“This was not a grant, per se, but more of a friendly competition between departments titled the Maine 2006 Law Enforcement Challenge. This was a pilot program and six departments that have been active in traffic enforcement through the Maine Department of Highway Safety were invited to participate. I attended a meeting in Augusta on March 1, 2006, where the guidelines and instructions were set forth,” said Sgt. Joey Seeley, of the PIPD.
Participating in the program were the York, Rockland, Augusta and Presque Isle police departments. Two others failed to turn in their completed projects in time to take part.
The competition involved each department showcasing what they did in the area of traffic enforcement and safety during 2006.
“There was certain criteria set forth and each department had to put together a book detailing what they do in the area of traffic enforcement. By documenting traffic safety programs, it allows our department to see what our strengths and weaknesses are and learn ways to improve,” said Seeley, noting that each department had the opportunity to review what the others did in their respective areas as well.
Seeley was assigned by Gagnon to serve as project manager and was in charge of putting all the material together – a task that took a considerable amount of time.
“As I told the chief, this was the worst assignment he has ever given me to complete but was well worth the effort in the end due to the in-car camera systems we received and the savings passed along to taxpayers,” said Seeley.
Though he oversaw the program, Seeley said he relied on and called upon many people from within the department to assist in getting the project completed on time.
“The entire department should be credited with us winning the award because it was based on what we as a department accomplished as a whole during the year 2006 concerning traffic safety measures,” said Seeley.
Articles and photographs from the Star-Herald about the department’s handling of various traffic issues were also included in the completed project. The book was completed and submitted in March 2007.
The PIPD is always looking for funding to save taxpayers money.
“The PIPD takes advantage of all grants that are offered through the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety and has had great results each time, whether it is speed details, seatbelt enforcement or OUI details. We have a great working relationship with the BHS and always work hard to do our best to make the streets of PI safer. Our efforts in this area is the very reason we were chosen to participate in the pilot program,” said Seeley.
Departments of similar size were matched up, with PIPD competing against Rockland, while Augusta and York competed against each other. The completed books were reviewed and judged and each department received a final score.
“The PIPD ended winning with a final score of 106.66, while Rockland came in second with a score of 97,” said Seeley.
For participating, each department received a camera system. For winning the competition, the PIPD received an additional unit.
“The chief and I attended the award ceremony in Augusta in September 2007. Our department was awarded two in-car video camera systems, that area valued at approximately $10,000, for coming in first place. Without participating, we wouldn’t have received such valuable equipment at no cost to taxpayers,” said Seeley.
Looking for a way to put cameras in all patrol vehicles, the department again dealt with the BHS for possible options.
“We put in through a BHS program to purchase three additional systems, where they (BHS) pay 75 percent of the cost and the PIPD picks up the remaining 25 percent. We were awarded the three cameras requested, with the department only having to come up with 25 percent of the funds,” said Seeley.
“Our portion of the payment came out to about $1,600 per unit,” added Gagnon.
The new camera equipment can identify which car it’s in, what officer was on duty, speed of vehicles and various other data.
“It’s not just an evidence-gathering device. This confirms an officer’s actions – records both visual and audio. It has in-car and outside mikes,” explained Seeley. “This is an officer’s friend.”
“You can potentially get a violation a minute before the lights go on,” said Gagnon.
Seeley said the systems are “not only for officer safety reasons but are valuable when investigating personnel complaints against officers.”
“The video does not lie and most times the recordings show that the officer did not do what the complainant alleges,” said Seeley.
Each unit is capable of recording up to 80 hours of footage, which can then be downloaded and saved to a CD.
“Sgt. Eric Erickson went to a training session with the company to learn how to install the cameras. In turn, that’s another savings to the department; now we don’t have to hire an outside source for installation,” said Gagnon. “Professional installation could get quite expensive.”
A grant earlier this year allowed the PIPD to run several speed details, primarily along Main Street.
“We’d received complaints from business owners and pedestrians concerned by the speed of vehicles on Main Street, especially in the area of downtown,” said Gagnon. “We did several details, stopping dozens of drivers who were traveling at speeds greater than 30 miles per hour. Since those details, traffic seems to have slowed down considerably.”
Gagnon said the department will continue to look for ways to improve service and save taxpayers money.
“We continue to look for programs and grants that involve acquiring equipment for little or no cost to the city. Whenever we can improve service and save money for the community, we’ll do it,” said Gagnon.
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
A NEED FOR SPEED landed several people in trouble with the law earlier this year, as members of the Presque Isle Police Department did random speed details in the Star City. Here, members of the department watch for speeders, using a radar system to detect vehicle speed. Pictured, from left: Officer Brian McQuarrie, Sgt. Joey Seeley recording vehicle speed; Chief Naldo Gagnon; and Sgt. Mark Barnes. The detail was made possible through a grant that allowed staff to put in the hours necessary to address the issue. Traffic has since slowed down considerably along Main Street, particularly in the downtown area.
