HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem G 4
July 7, 1999
AGENDA REPORT
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
Via: Keith Till, City Manager
From: Michael F. Sellers, Chief of Police
Subject: POLICE DEPARTMENT RECORDER PURCHASE
SUMMARY OF REQUEST
The City received funding in the second quarter of 1997 under the Citizens' Options for
Public Safety (COPS) State Grant Program. The Police Department is requesting
authorization to utilize $11,306 of the total grant of $60,605 for the purchase of portable
digital recorders for all field and investigative personnel.
BACKGROUND
In September 1997 the County Auditor-Controller, Steven Lewis, notified the City of
Seal Beach that it would receive $60,605 of a$100-million State grant to local
jurisdictions for public safety purposes. The guidelines for the use of the funds were
detailed and accepted in a Staff Report on November 7, 1997. Field recording devices
were identified and accepted as an appropriate use of approximately $15,000 of the
$60,605.
Field tests of several products have been completed. A particular product and its sole
supplier(Dictaphone) have been identified as the most appropriate choice. Products from
Sony, Panasonic, and Olympus were also tested but did not meet Department needs.
The advantages of this particular product and supplier are the following:
• Digital recording capability will allow expeditious tracking of individual
conversations via computer managed voice file indexing.
• Officer conversations and interviews can be readily transferred to electronic reports
and E-mail.
• Dictaphone software will in some circumstances allow computerized transcription.
• Hardware and software support is greatly enhanced by utilizing the manufacturer of
both the software and hardware (Dictaphone) as a sole source provider.
Agenda Item 6;
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• The Department has had a long-term relationship with Dictaphone and has been very
satisfied with system support.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City has already complied with the legislature's requirement to establish a separate
Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Fund (SLESF). The Department has been
drawing on that fund during the term of the grant. The funding of this purchase will be
made solely utilizing SLESF funds. There are no matching City funds required.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council authorizes the Police Department to purchase the Dictaphone field recorders
directly from Dictaphone utilizing SLESF funds.
,
(4441,
Michael F. Sellers, Chief of Police
NOTED AND APPROVED:
Keith R. Till, City anager