BRISTOL, Va. – City speeders beware.
This week, the Bristol Virginia Police Department bought almost a dozen new radar units and 14 dashboard cameras, rounding out a 10-year initiative to arm every patrol car with the devices. They expect to have them fully installed within several weeks.
The equipment was bought from a Kansas-based company for $77,544.
“We’ve been needing it, but due to economic constraints, it’s beyond our normal budget,” Capt. Darryl Milligan said, noting that “asset seizure funds” distributed by Commonwealth’s Attorney Jerry Wolfe, footed the bill. Milligan said he believed assets seized during just one incident covered the costs, but he wasn’t sure of the details.
The department purchased a similar chunk of 14 cameras in 2008, also using forfeiture money. Otherwise, they’ve bought one or two at a time with grants.
Until now, some patrol cruisers were without radar units, which authorities said are a necessity for efficient traffic enforcement. The latest purchase brings the department’s total to 40 units, which covers all 36 patrol officers and their supervisors.
The cameras, intended to assist in the prosecution of DUI and reckless driving offenses, turn on in four ways: manually, automatically when the blue lights start swirling, with a remote micro-transmitter, and if the car were to crash.
“The evidence the cameras document allows prosecutors, defense attorneys and the courts to generally see what the officer saw as he or she presents a case,” Milligan said in a written statement. They are about the size of a standard GPS and operate on a Windows-based system; the cameras are regularly recording and when activated automatically save the previous minute.
“It’s the newest, latest technology,” Milligan said. “They’re a little bit more reliable, a little bit quicker.”
cgalofaro@bristolnews.com | (276) 645-2531
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