LAWRENCE: Chief seeks 911 system, car cameras

A new 911 communications system, replacement of the in-car video recording systems for patrol cars, a “cloud” system to back up data, plus upgrades to the Lawrence Township Municipal Court and Police Depar

By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
   A new 911 communications system, replacement of the in-car video recording systems for patrol cars, a “cloud” system to back up data, plus upgrades to the Lawrence Township Municipal Court and Police Department building.
   That’s what Acting Chief of Police Mark Ubry requested from Township Council last week during his budget presentation. Chief Ubry also presented the Police Department’s annual report to the governing body at the March 4 meeting.
   Chief Ubry told the council that the present 911 communications system is 11 years old and needs to be replaced. It is recommended to replace communications systems every three to five years, he said. The cost is projected to be $50,000.
   The second request, Chief Ubry said, is replacement of the in-car video recording systems, at an estimated cost of $125,000. The cameras are eight years old, and many of them are not working. The present system uses DVDs, but the new systems use digital technology and are high definition.
   Municipal Attorney David Roskos backed up Chief Ubry’s request for a new in-car video recording systems. It protects police officers from claims that they did not act appropriately. The township receives many “frivolous” claims against police officers, he added.
   ”It would stop frivolous reports right in their tracks,” Mr. Roskos said. The new cameras would provide a benefit to both the Police Department and the community by proving that the officer did not take inappropriate actions, he said.
   Chief Ubry also asked for a new data backup system that would cost about $15,500. It would back up information in the “cloud” in real time, he said, adding that it is recommended that the information should be stored “off site.” The Police Department uses a manual backup system now.
   And noting that the Municipal Court and Police Department building is12 years old, Chief Ubry asked Township Council for improvements such as door access locks and computer software updates at an estimated cost of $33,000.
   The computerized door access locks are beginning to fail, he said. The computerized door access system tracks who has entered the cellblock, the property room and other secure areas of the Police Department, and court offices in the Municipal Court area of the building.
   Chief Ubry pointed out that the Police Department’s budget requests are aimed at “replacing things that need replacing.” The budget requests total about $220,000.
   Turning to the Police Department’s annual report, Chief Ubry said the police officers work “tirelessly” to bring each case to resolution. The police officers take a pro-active approach to law enforcement, he said.
   ”Personally, I feel we are doing a pretty good job,” he said.
   When a police officer stops a motorist for a motor vehicle violation or investigates a report of a suspicious person, the officer “looks beyond the initial stop” and tries to determine whether that person has an outstanding warrant, he said.
   That’s because the Police Department thinks crime can be reduced by arresting potential criminals who are wanted on outstanding warrants, before they have a chance to commit a crime. Last year, police arrested 852 people who had outstanding warrants.
   Chief Ubry also said that overall, there were 27 percent fewer calls for service in 2013 than in 2012. There were 45,277 calls for service in 2012, and 33,033 in 2013. A call for service is an action or request initiated by a police officer or a civilian — from reports of criminal mischief to accidental injuries to traffic enforcement and warrant arrests.
   ”That (27 percent decrease) bothered me,” Chief Ubry said. After reviewing the reports, he attributed the decline in calls for service to changes in the Police Department. People are able to report certain types of incidents online and do not need to see a police officer, for example.
   The number of traffic accidents was virtually unchanged, Chief Ubry said. There were 1,273 accidents in 2012 and 1,275 in 2013. Police issued 6,343 traffic tickets last year, including 46 for drunk drivers.
   The Police Department also issued 6,852 traffic tickets to motorists who passed through the intersection of Brunswick Pike and Franklin Corner Road/Bakers Basin Road — the site of the township’s only red light camera. The system photographs motorists who do not come to a complete stop when the traffic light is red.
   On staffing, Chief Ubry reported that the Police Department is authorized to have 58 police officers — from patrol officers to the chief of police — but there are only 53 officers. Several officers have retired and “we are waiting for the Civil Service list” of candidates for police officer, he said. The vacancies will be filled from that list.
   In addition to the police officers, the Police Department includes two fulltime employees in the Records Bureau, plus one part-time employee. They handle requests from citizens for accident reports and investigation reports, Chief Ubry said. They handled 2,376 requests for those reports.
   ”They were quite busy,” Chief Ubry said. “They are the unsung heroes of the Police Department.”