Trace Christenson

Battle Creek Enquirer

The Emmett Township board may vote Thursday to buy two fire trucks and be the first in Calhoun County to equip its police officers with body cameras.

The township board will consider spending $1.45 million for a ladder truck and a pumper engine to replace two aging trucks.

And Chief Mike Olson said after a 90-day test, he will recommend that the township pay $8,000 for eight body cameras for his officers. He is proposing eight more be purchased in another year.

"I want our folks to use that piece of equipment to assist them in doing their jobs," he said. "It can assist the officers in the performance of their duties."

Proponents of body cameras around the country have said they can help determine actions of the officers and the people they encounter. Olson said "the video and audio has been very supportive of officers in performing their duties and showed that the behavior was justified."

He said the cameras are effective because they can easily be pointed in different directions as the officer turns.

"With the cars (cameras), whatever direction the car is pointed, that is what you get," Olson said.

Three other departments – Calhoun County Sheriff Department, Marshall Police Department and the Albion Department of Public Safety – also have been testing the cameras.

Chief Jim Schwartz of Marshall said his department has been testing body cameras for a couple of months and he hopes to have money allocated and cameras in use by next year.

Scott Kipp, Albion chief, said officers have been testing the cameras since April but he does not have money to purchase them.

And the sheriff department has been testing cameras for some corrections officers and for patrol officers, said Capt. Steve Eddy. He said officers in the jail and on the road may have them by next year.

In Battle Creek, Chief Jim Blocker said he has begun a review of the use of the cameras, but no officers have been testing the equipment.

Olson said if the council approves the purchase Thursday night, Emmett officers could be equipped with body cameras in 30 days.

The new fire trucks could be in service within four months if the board approves the purchases.

Olson said a truck with a 100-foot ladder would replace a 1989 truck with a 55-foot ladder, while a new pumper engine would be added, moving a rusting 1998 pumper to reserve status.

He said the purchases will be financed over 10 years after a 1 mill renewal for public safety equipment was approved in August.

"We are moving forward based on the support we received from the township residents," Olson said.

He said the new truck will reach the roof of the eight-story hotel at FireKeepers Casino, the tallest building in the township.

"That was one of our test areas and we wanted to make sure the new ladder would accommodate the top of the casino," Olson said. "With the growth of the township, including the commercial district and the casino, we need a piece of equipment that is going to allow us to elevate our firefighters and use the equipment for firefighting and rescues."

Four companies were considered but Olson said he is proposing that the township buy both trucks from Sutphen Corp. in Dublin, Ohio. He said the pumper/tanker will be ready in a month and the ladder truck in four months.

The township board will begin its meeting at 5:30 p.m. in the township hall at 621 Cliff St.

Call Trace Christenson at 966-0685. Follow him on Twitter: @TSChristenson