Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Sheriff Operations topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sheriff says department bought drone; jail phone revenue to fall after FCC ruling
Summary
Sheriff Brian Gutowski told the Public Safety Committee the department purchased a drone paid from internal funds for quicker on-scene deployment and warned a new FCC ruling will cut jail phone commission revenue and eliminate an annual vendor tech grant.
Sheriff Brian Gutowski told the Manistee County Public Safety Committee that the sheriff's office has purchased a drone using internal funds and plans to keep it staged in patrol vehicles for immediate deployment. The purchase, Gutowski said, will reduce reliance on mutual-aid assets and allow deputies to use aerial footage more quickly in investigations and scene management.
Gutowski and staff also described an immediate budget impact from a recent Federal Communications Commission ruling that caps facility cost recovery for audio and video in correctional facilities. Committee materials and staff analysis show the county's previous contract with CPC included a $15,000 annual technology grant tied to inmate phone services; Gutowski reported commission revenue will decline from about $1,050 per month to roughly $300 per month and that the technology grant is eliminated. The department said it will absorb the shortfall in the near term and bring year-in-review statistics to the March Board of Commissioners meeting.
