St. Joseph City Commissioners have approved the purchase of a new body camera system for police. During a meeting this week, St. Joseph Department of Public Safety Director Steve Neubecker said the old cameras are near the end of their lives.
“In July of 2017, the department purchased Panasonic Systems new car and body cameras,” Neubecker said. “The current Panasonic system is nearing the end of its life. Panasonic is slowly exiting the market. we’re having a difficult time finding parts for that unit.”
Neubecker recommended the city buy a new system from Axon at a cost of $205,000. The department has received a $40,000 to help pay for the 26 body cams and five vehicle units. Commissioners agreed to the request. Also this week, Neubecker showed of the department’s drones, which were made possible partly thanks to donations from the families of two men who drowned in Lake Michigan off piers on separate occasions last year. Dakota Cody Yergeau was washed off the south pier in February of last year and Samuel Sohn died off the north pier in July. Neubecker said the new drones are named Cody and Samuel. They will be used to assist in water rescues.
