Columbia Police Department officers will be trying out a new camera system over the next month to see if the units are what the department wants to purchase.
Police Chief Michael Kelly discussed the cameras and other issues during the Columbia Board of Aldermen meeting Tuesday night at City Hall.
“We had discussed in the previous meeting about getting bids for the cameras,” he said. “We’ve talked to one company called Axon; they are the same company that makes our Tasers, and they are going to send us two units to try. I like what I see. We should have them in out hands by next week and we will have them for 30 days.”
Kelly said he wanted the department to explore the options before buying.
Ward 1 Alderman Wendell Hammond said the cameras are important for several reasons and referenced the deaths of two officers in Brookhaven last weekend.
“We’re going to put them on night shift to try them,” Kelly said. “We want to see what they are capable of. We may try them for five days and not like them and send them back or we may really like them and want to explore them further.”
Aldermen agreed the demonstration of the cameras would be beneficial to the department.
The board also took action on a previous discussion regarding the use of the Mississippi Warrants Network to help collect fines.
“I’ve discussed it with the chief today, and he is very favorable with us going with them,” Mayor Justin McKenzie said. “We don’t have anything to lose because if they don’t collect, they don’t get paid.”
Ward 4 Alderman Mike Smith made a motion to approve that was seconded by Hammond. The board voted 5-0 to approve the contract and then voted make a resolution authorizing Mississippi Warrants Network to assess a 25 percent fee on the warrants in-state and 50 percent out-of-state.
The board also approved using a South Mississippi Planning and Development District program to employ two part-time workers at the Columbia-Marion County Animal Shelter.
“They have an employee workforce training program where they will be paid up to $8 per hour for up to 21 hours per week,” McKenzie said. “The chief has met with several people and referred them to the program. Several businesses in town are taking advantage of the ability to employ them. You interview them just like you would if you were hiring them, but they assume the liability and the full payment for any work done.”
The board also approved a new series of police department policies in the procedure manual but will wait and discuss a options on take-home cars. McKenzie said there are three options that will be discussed at a later date.
Alderman-at-Large Edward Hough then made a motion to approve the policy minus the take-home cars procedure that was seconded by Ward 2 Alderman Jason Stringer and unanimously approved.
The Columbia Board of Aldermen next meets in regular session at 4 p.m. on Oct. 16 at City Hall.
