Troy

Forget about dashboard cameras in the police department's vehicles; the city will instead buy new patrol cars.

The cameras are a tool to increase public confidence in the city's police officers by providing a video record of what happens on patrol.

But without new police cars, the police can't patrol.

The police department has returned three vehicle cameras and a body camera to the manufacturer, ending the hope of launching the program this year, Chief John Tedesco said.

"It's disappointing. This was the keystone to really moving ahead with police-community relations," Tedesco said.

The plan was to use up to $200,000 in federal funds to buy cameras for 15 police vehicles.

But when the city didn't bond for six new vehicles, Tedesco said the money was needed to cover the cost.

"Unbelievable" is how Councilman Robert Doherty described the situation. Doherty chairs the City Council's Public Safety Committee.

Not having the money for patrol cars demonstrates how dysfunctional the city financial situation is, Doherty said.

"What's going on in City Hall is a total functional and emotional collapse," Doherty said.

"Everybody knows if you use cameras there are less incidents and the police are protected," Doherty said.

Body cameras on police officers have become a nationwide priority since the Ferguson, Mo., shooting death of Michael Brown, an unarmed black teen, by a white police officer on Aug. 9.

In Troy, cameras are seen as a way of soothing tensions that arose after a 2014 brawl at now-defunct Kokopellis night club that involved police officers.

Mayor Lou Rosamilia said his administration is working to fund the vehicles. He said a plan to install the cameras is under consideration.

"Obviously, when you are talking about the police-community relations it is very important to us," Rosamilia said.

Acting City Comptroller Joseph Mazzariello is working on a potential lease-purchase agreement for the vehicles and cameras, Rosmailia said.

Vehicles are included in the 2015 capital budget for the police department, Rosamilia said, adding that the purchase is to be paid for with federal funds.

A Public Safety Committee will be formed to discuss the cameras and patrol vehicles and to deal with the budget issue, Doherty said.

Tedesco said the police department will apply for federal funds to pay for cameras. But, he said, that puts the program off a year and there will be intense competition for the grants.

kcrowe@timesunion.com • 518-454-5084 • @KennethCrowe