Berkley cops step into
modern age with new cameras

By Jeremy Selweski
C & G Staff Writer

BERKLEY — To say that Berkley’s in-car police cameras are a little old and outdated is a major understatement.

In fact, the notion prompted a sarcastic laugh from Public Safety Director Richard Eshman. “I’ve got a list of bills here for $20,000 in repairs to our VHS systems since November 2004,” he said. “It’s outrageous — half the time, they’re not working, and then we have to cannibalize parts from other units to fix them.”

Thankfully, that’s about to change. The camera systems used in seven of the Public Safety Department’s marked scout cars and one motorcycle are getting a vital overhaul following the City Council’s approval of a $61,000 purchase agreement for brand-new cameras.

“We’re very pleased with this purchase,” said City Manager Jane Bais-DiSessa. “It’s a great technology, and it’s one more step to making us more efficient and productive.”

The new digital system will include vastly improved audio and visual capabilities, greater ease of use and a much more efficient storage system, which Eshman said will save the city a great deal of time and money.

“We’re moving into this millennium with a much more secure, reliable system,” he said. “In law enforcement, this kind of documentation is indispensable.”

According to Sgt. Tom Dzendzel, the current system is based on VCR technology that is no longer acceptable in today’s world of ubiquitous digital technology. The cameras were purchased in 2002, but since late 2004 they have become increasingly erratic, with a greater frequency of mechanical failures requiring costly repairs. And because the system is nearly obsolete, it can be very difficult to locate suitable replacement parts.

“With the current system, you’re basically driving around with a VCR banging around in your car,” Dzendzel said. “This will be a big improvement. I’m really looking forward to it.”

The new cameras will not only afford vast upgrades in picture and sound quality, but also in range. Whereas the current system can only “see” and “hear” what is happening within 40 or 50 feet of the car, the new system has a range of up to 1,000 feet. It also includes a camera in the backseat of each vehicle and three microphones instead of one.

In addition, by using a DVD-based system in which the audio and video records are automatically downloaded onto the station’s server throughout each day, the amount of storage space saved is significant.

“We have a room in the basement that’s completely lined with tapes,” Dzendzel said.

Eshman estimated that the department uses at least 15 VHS tapes every day, which are kept for six months before being disposed of. That means that in a typical six-month span, the department must purchase more than 2,700 new tapes.

Then there’s the fact that VHS tapes are fragile and require occasional cleaning and maintenance. “They split, they break, they get lost — it’s a nightmare,” Eshman said.

“Every week, we have to clean them, rewind them, erase them,” Dzendzel said.

Eshman also pointed out that the new cameras would provide much greater efficiency for the department in two key areas: presenting evidence in court and resolving complaints by residents.

As evidence in a court of law, Eshman said, video and audio documentation allow a judge or jury to quickly and easily get to the truth of the matter at hand. “It’s a huge assistance,” he said. “We can document, right or wrong, exactly what happened.”

Eshman said that the Berkley Public Safety Department occasionally receives complaints of inappropriate conduct by its officers, and the in-car cameras have been invaluable in showing whether a complaint holds any water.

“We’ve had about 20 or 25 cases of this in the past five years, and in every case, it was refuted because of camera evidence,” he said. “If we do not have these cameras, each incident will cost us a lot of money (in potential investigations and lawsuits).”

Dzendzel said it would take a few months before the new camera systems are installed, but he pointed out that once in place, the department will see immediate, positive changes. And considering all the increased benefits, $61,000 is a rather modest sum for a system that Eshman expects will last for “years and years.”

“We’re elated about this,” he said. “The dependability factor greatly outweighs the cost.”