LPD cars to get new cameras

Town Board approves purchase, park work

By Terry Duffy

Editor-in-Chief

The Town of Lewiston handled a few interesting news items of note, at its relatively brief work session Monday in Town Hall.

Leading off, residents can look forward to seeing updated law enforcement equipment on area roads, as the Town Board approved an agreement calling for the acquisition, installation and maintenance of new cameras in all Lewiston Police Department vehicles.

 “We had a meeting with the chief and the captain,” said Town Supervisor Steve Broderick as he discussed the new LPD agreement with Axon Enterprise, the U.S. Border Patrol and Homeland Security. “Axon Enterprises has made a proposal for in-car cameras.”

Currently, Lewiston officers have body cameras, but LPD vehicles are not so equipped. Broderick said he received a quote of $38,702 from Axon, an Arizona company that develops technology and weapons for law enforcement. He said the agreement would cover the purchase, installation, plus five years of maintenance for the high-tech cameras.

“Annually the chief has an agreement from Border Patrol … a program called Stone Guard. They promised us $12,000 a year to help offset this cost.”

The purchase would cover said installation of 13 new cameras in LPD patrol cars, according to Police Chief Frank Previte.

He said, “They’re in car-cameras that not only capture the driving, but they also have cameras facing the rear and any prisoners we may have. And built into these are license plate readers. It’s a dual technology.”

The board unanimously approved the motion.

Councilman John Jacoby said, “This is really kind of overdue. With our communities we serve, this will be more safe for the police, for the public.”

Also approved that evening was $59,700 in town spending for the new Lewiston Riverfront Park on Lower River Road. The spending to town engineering firm GHD calls for roughly $10,000 in design and survey work to include new kayak launch toward development and designs of a new boardwalk in the park.

“We’re going to begin advertising for bids for design and construction work for the boardwalk,” said Town Engineer Bob Lannon of GHD.

Broderick said, “Once the design of this is finished, we’re going to be going back to Greenway for the kayak launch (funding).”

The motions went on to be approved unanimously by the board.