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Seward County authorizes replacement of body-worn and in-car camera system, using grants and lease purchase
Summary
The commission approved replacing end-of-life body-worn and in-car cameras and digital evidence storage with a Motorola system, offsetting costs with forfeiture and foundation funds and using a five-year lease-purchase agreement.
Seward County commissioners voted to purchase a new body-worn and in-car camera system and digital evidence storage after staff said the county’s current system is obsolete following Motorola’s acquisition of WatchGuard.
Staff presented a $212,458 list price; funding from the sheriff’s forfeiture account and the Bauchman Foundation of $65,000 reduces the county’s financed amount to about $139,373.25. The county will use a five-year lease-purchase with Motorola and budget the staff-recommended payments (first-year $65,000 covered by forfeiture/foundation; years 2–5 four payments of $36,864.50). The vendor will provide a three-year staggered upgrade/replacement and damage insurance per the procurement presentation.
Commissioners asked whether the technology would remain useful for 8–10 years; a department representative said in-car cameras are already ~8 years old and body-worn cameras ~6 years, and hoped the new suite would meet an 8–10 year life expectancy with staggered upgrades.
The motion to accept the foundation funds and authorize the purchase from Motorola passed on a five–zero voice vote.
Quote: "That's a savings," the chair said of the combined funding offset that lowers the county’s financed amount.
Next steps: staff will finalize the lease-purchase documentation, accept the foundation funds formally in the procurement record as the commission requested, and proceed with the purchase schedule.
