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Grant Might Fund Cameras In Simsbury Police Vehicles
Aug 21, 04:07 PM
Hartford Courant
By REGINE LABOSSIERE |Courant Staff Writer
SIMSBURY – — For the past few years, local police officers have taken turns using the department’s one video camera when they go out on patrol. Police say that having a video camera is beneficial to the department in several ways, which is why the Simsbury Police Department wants more than one.
The problem is, Capt. Matthew Catania said, the cameras are very expensive and the department has eight patrol vehicles that would need them. However, a $65,000 grant could be the solution to the financial problem.
U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy, D-5th District, stopped by the town this week to talk to a few local officials about the proposed federal grant. Kristen Bossi, a spokeswoman for Murphy, said the grant went through the Appropriations Committee in the House of Representatives in June as part of the $56.9 billion commerce, justice and science appropriations bill for fiscal year 2009. The bill will be up for a vote in the House after it goes back into session Sept. 8 and also has to be approved by the Senate.
Catania said having a video camera in a patrol cruiser recording every stop helps “protect the town from erroneous claims of officer conduct.” He said the police review the tapes to determine if a claim made against an officer is true.
Catania said that the videos also are good administrative tools — he reviews them to make sure his officers are doing a good job, he said. Also, he said, the department uses the tapes to teach younger officers about proper police conduct while on the road.
“To me it’s a big plus. I like it,” Catania said.
