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Pocomoke approves neighborhood camera package and license‑plate reader bundle to expand surveillance
Summary
The mayor and council voted to approve a package of quad cameras, license‑plate readers and a gunshot‑detection bundle with an initial estimated cost of $59,800; the council approved reallocating existing capital funds and red‑speed revenues to cover the first year, leaving an $800 shortfall noted by police.
Pocomoke City — The Pocomoke City mayor and council on June 16 approved a police proposal to expand neighborhood surveillance with four‑lens “quad” cameras and a bundled license‑plate reader (LPR) and shot‑detection service.
Police Chief Hancock told the council the city has two trial quad cameras installed and that each camera uses four lenses; two quad units provide coverage equivalent to eight individual cameras. Chief Hancock said a package of four quad cameras would cost about $30,000 installed. He said the vendor also offered a bundled license‑plate‑reader and shot‑detector service with a one‑year, $29,800 subscription option (the company’s LPR/shot‑detection bundle requires only a one‑year commitment). Chief Hancock said the bundled deployment would be placed strategically across the city’s north, south, east and west corridors.
Chief Hancock described the features as valuable to investigations and said the department would welcome any council members to view the installed test cameras. A council speaker framed the proposal as a public‑safety measure and said “we can't put a cost on a life,” language the chief and city manager used in the item’s budget discussion.
The police presented a funding plan that repurposes existing line items rather than increasing taxes or requesting new revenue: $25,000 from the city’s red‑speed (traffic enforcement) fund, $23,000 from capital outlay previously earmarked for new patrol rifles, and $11,000 from capital outlay set aside for interior painting of the police department. Those three sources total $59,000, leaving an $800 gap the chief said he expected to cover from other departmental savings.
Councilors asked procedural questions; no members of the public spoke against the package during the item. A council member moved to approve the neighborhood camera upgrades and the motion passed on a voice vote.
The council did not adopt a long‑term contract commitment for the shot‑detection/LPR bundle beyond the first year; Chief Hancock said the bundled annual cost would be $29,800 with only a one‑year commitment required. Council members and staff said they expect to review performance and renewal options after the initial period.
