The Lindsay City Council is exploring how to provide new tasers and body cameras for the Lindsay Police Department.
Police Chief Aaron Aprill told council members during a special meeting on Jan. 18 the tasers and body cams currently in use by the department are not in good working order and are old enough parts to repair them are obsolete.
A new taser and body camera package from Axon, one of the main manufacturers of tasers according to Aprill, would cost the department $27,000 per year on a five-year contract. The contract includes replacement equipment if something breaks and updated equipment halfway through the contract period.
Aprill told the council he has been exploring options to fund new equipment but has only found one available grant program. That is a onetime grant from Oklahoma Mutual Assurance Group (OMAG) and the City of Lindsay has received it previously and is no longer eligible to apply, Aprill said.
Council Member Robin Staggs asked Aprill how often officers use tasers and body cams. He said they use the body cameras constantly, adding that the contract being considered will include cameras for code enforcement and animal control officers, so if a complaint is lodged city officials can review body camera footage.
“Now tasers, I can’t tell you how many times we’ll use them. Hopefully not a lot, but when you’re at that point, you need it. I would much rather use less lethal force on someone than have to shoot, and that’s where these tasers come in,” Aprill said.
Mayor Eric Dodson said officer safety is the number one concern for him but added that from the city’s standpoint the equipment could end up saving money.
“From the city side, $135,000 for 5 years could save the city $2 million if something were to happen,” Dodson said. “To me it makes sense all the way around.”
Council members seemed to be in favor of the purchase but agreed to take no action on the item until the city attorney can review the equipment contract. Once that is done, they will vote on whether to enter the contract with Axon.
The council also considered a request from the Lindsay Youth Council for the city to annex land the softball and baseball complex sits on for the purpose of “enhancing police protection.” Youth Council representatives said they would continue to provide maintenance and upkeep of the fields and complex.
Dodson reminded council members the city’s charter would require the city to be able to provide utilities to the complex within 10 years if annexed, regardless of whether the complex requested such services or not. The measure is intended to prevent cities from annexing land they don’t have the infrastructure to maintain, City Manager Rebecca Niernberger explained.
The council voted to pursue the annexation request pending proper statutory legal requirements being met.
Council members also approved a resolution to appropriate American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to provide a onetime COVID Hazard Pay stipend of $1,000 to all City of Lindsay and Lindsay Public Works Authority employees. The City is expected to receive roughly $400,000 in ARPA relief funds.
Niernberger said the hazard pay is one of the suggested uses of ARPA funds. It will help compensate essential workers for time missed at work if they or a family member had COVID. All council members voted in favor of the resolution.
Under the Lindsay Public Works Authority meeting, council members voted to terminate a contract with Chad Weinrich of Winter Creek Golf Course in Blanchard for consulting services related to the Lindsay Golf Course. The contract costs the city $6,000 a year, and Niernberger said there are some contractual obligations that haven’t been met for some time.
