Cloud Hosting

LAKELAND Lakeland Police Department announcedbodycameras could be rolled out to officersby thisfall.

Assistant Chief Hans Lehman told city commissioners the agency hopes to receive a shipment of 250cameras and 250 Tasers to replace theiroutdated models by June. If so, Lehman saidrollout to officers would be inOctober or November - months ahead of the prior schedule. His previous estimate was December at the earliest.

"That's incredibly commendable," Mayor Bill Mutz said, who advocated strongly for equipping officers with cameras.

Previously: City of Lakeland to spend $9.3 million on body cameras, other technology

Also: Lakeland's budget discussion mired by body camera debate

The department has started drafting a policy that governs how officers are to use body cameras and governing best practices. Lehman said the hope is to have a first version drafted by late April or May, with the regulations submitted to the commission for approval over the summer.

The department's timeline should allow for the rulesto be in placeabout whenthe equipment is expected to arrivefrom Arizona-based provider Axon Enterprises, Inc.

"Everybody's got delays with supply and demand," Lehman said.

Axon representatives are scheduled tocome to Lakeland for a week in June to provide hands-on training for the department's 250 officers.

The agency anticipates it will need roughlythree monthsfrom July to Septemberto ensure all members are fully trained, according to Lehman. This time will be used to test runthe new equipment and to make sure it cancommunicate and be integrated withtheir new Computer Aided Dispatch system, or CAD/RMS, software that launched March 22.

Officers have started going tocommunityeventsto speak about the department'slatest technological upgrades.

Did you know: A taser's life expectancy is only 5 years. Lakeland police are using 7-year-old devices

"It's not just body cameras,"Lehman said,"it's an entire digital evidence management system."

In addition to four virtual reality training sets, the police department has ordered upgradedcameras for its interview room under the 10-year, $9.3-million package with Axon. It will transition from its on-premise server and DVD storage of evidence to an unlimited cloud storage system. Lehman said these measures should allow for easier sharing of evidence betweenthe police department, the Polk County Sheriff's Office and the state attorney's office.

Officers have startedattending various community meetings across Lakeland to share details on the department's latest technology updates and answer questions, particularly about cameras.

Lehman said there's a Citizen for Community program offered by Axon that will allow residents to submit home security camera footage, cell phone videos and other digital evidence directly to the police.

A secondary mobile app will allow Lakeland police officers to take photos of crime scenes with their department-issued cell phone and upload themsystem so they become part of case files.

By the numbers: A look at what body cameras cost Florida law enforcement agencies

"We really are creating more efficiencies for us," Lehman said.

By the fall, the department should receive 165 in-car video dash cameras ordered with license plate reader technology -enough to provide for marked cars in the city's fleet.

It will take time to get up and running, Lehman said, adding about two to three cars a day will be taken out of rotation, have the old system taken out out and new cameras installed.

The new system should be fully live by the end of the year.

Sara-Megan Walsh can be reached at swalsh@theledger.com or 863-802-7545. Follow on Twitter @SaraWalshFL.

See more here:
Lakeland Police Department: Body cameras could be rolled out this fall - The Ledger