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North Branford Council Asked to OK Town's First Police Body Cameras

With time ticking down on a state grant application deadline, North Branford's Police Commission and Police Department are asking the Town Council to assist them in entering a five-year contract to equip all North Branford police officers with body cameras, for the first time. The council would need to appropriate about $33,000 for the initial purchase of the cameras, with 100 percent of that cost to be later reimbursed by the state grant.

At the January 16 Town Council meeting, North Branford Police Lt. Jim Lovelace brought the request to the council with the unanimous support of the police commission, which met to discuss the body cameras and grant application deadline on January 8.

At the Jan. 8 Police Commission meeting, Police Chief Matthew Canelli explained the state grant would provide 100 percent reimbursement of the initial first year cost of $32,896 to buy body cameras and all needed equipment to outfit all members of the department, according to meeting minutes. The grant application deadline for 100 percent reimbursement of the $32,896 cost is June 30, 2018.  If the department applies for the grant after July 1, 2018, only 50 percent reimbursement would be received.

The purchase of the cameras, to be supplied by law enforcement technology company Axon (formerly known as Taser), would open a five-year contract. The cost to the town in years two through five of the contract would be approximately $15,500 annually. The town would begin paying the $15,500 annual cost with the 2019-20 fiscal year. The five-year contract also includes supplying new cameras to the department at two and half years into the contract; and again in the fifth year of the contract. It also includes a year of free video storage, with additional storage to be cloud-based.

The town also could, if needed, cancel the contract at any time due to budget cuts, without penalties, said Lt. Lovelace.

"As long as you defund the program, at your level, the contract is null and void," Lt. Lovelace explained to the council on Jan. 16.

Lt. Lovelace described some of the capabilities of the latest police body-cams, including technology that has grown to incorporate Bluetooth activation and GPS enabling technologies. Depending on settings, cameras begin to capture footage starting between 30 seconds to two minutes before activation. Additional technology (not included in the proposed contract) can be incorporated to make the body cams capable of synching up to begin recording when an officer unholsters a Taser or firearm, said Lt. Lovelace.

Lt. Lovelace also told the council that North Branford is the area's only police force now operating without the use of body cameras (or, as in the current case of Guilford police, vehicle mounted cameras; although Guilford is also pursuing a state grant for body cameras).  Branford was one of the first departments in the state to equip officers with body cams, beginning in 2012. 

"Body-cams have become a standard in police work," said Lt. Lovelace. "Every agency around us has some type of system."

The footage assists investigators with arrests involving use of force, driving under the influence, traffic accidents and more, said Lt. Lovelace. It can also be used for training and as supporting evidence, should the actions of an officer be questioned or challenged legally.

"If you can find an attorney for $15,500 that's going to represent you in a federal civil rights [case], I'd like to meet him," Lt. Lovelace told the council.

In 2015, body camera footage was examined by the Waterbury State's Attorney's Office as part of an investigation of a Branford officer, following the death of man the officer had shocked with a Taser.  The officer was exonerated as result of the state's attorney's investigation.

To commit to the Axon contract, the town will have to initially foot the bill for contract's first-year expense of approximately $33,000; but that money will later be reimbursed to the town through the state grant. The council plans to reconvene at its Feb. 6 Town Council meeting for a vote on whether to approve the police body camera funding appropriation and to allow the police department to apply for 100 percent first-year reimbursement through the state grant.

The Town Council is set to meet Tues. Feb. 6, 7 p.m. in Council Chambers at North Branford Town Hall, 909 Foxon Rd.