By Susan Beagle

Middletown Police Chief Greg Schwarber presented a proposal to buy video equipment for the police department to the city council. 

He recommended the purchase of this equipment at a cost of $127,000 from OEM Micro to replace outdated and unserviceable cameras now installed Middletown police cruisers. 

The current cameras were purchased over 15 years ago and many are not functioning.  The chief demonstrated the quality difference between the old VHS technology and the new videos.  The new video systems automatically capture video 30 seconds before lights and sirens are activated in the police cruisers. 

The recommended equipment is the least expensive of the options that were researched and is available on state contract and is budgeted for in the technology replacement fund.