It may be coming with a hefty price tag, yet according to Bastrop County Sheriff Terry Pickering, the recently approved technology upgrades for his patrol fleet are long overdue.
On Monday, Pickering’s plan to equip all patrol cars in the sheriff’s office with laptop computers and digital cameras was unanimously approved by county commissioners.
The equipment, which will be garnered through a four-year, approximately $678,000 lease agreement with Panasonic Finance Solutions, is expected to be installed in all 45 patrol cars by the end of March.
“It will put a lot of information right at the fingertips of officers and have a significant impact on the amount of radio traffic and some of the functions dispatch personnel are currently having to perform for officers,” Pickering said on Monday.
The sheriff also highlighted the need for cameras in terms of evidence gathering, protecting the county from legal suits and streamlining the transfer of information to the district attorney’s office.
Pickering said he has been eyeing the absence of such technology since taking office in early 2009.
“One of my primary objectives since taking office was to try and upgrade overall technology,” Pickering said. “I really believe we need to work smarter and not necessarily harder.”
Commissioners did not discuss the terms of the lease agreement before voting on its approval Monday. At a county meeting last month when the issue was initially presented, Pickering told the court he expects the approximately $170,000 needed for the first year of the lease could be covered under funds already appropriated for law enforcement for the 2010 budget. The following three years and beyond, however, would likely require an increased allocation to the sheriff’s budget.
• Among other action taken or items discussed Monday, Bastrop County Assistant Planning and Project Management Director Rachel Clampffer and Elizabeth Prestwood of TxDOT outlined a presentation on the final draft of the Bastrop County Comprehensive Transportation Plan. Commissioners approved a time frame for a public comment period March 8 through April 19 on the transportation plan’s final draft. A public hearing will take place April 7 from 4 to 7 p.m.
• The court approved the extension of a lease agreement with Guardian EMS at Cedar Creek Annex.
• A policy regarding the placement of cattle guards across county roads and/or within the county right of way was approved.
• A speed limit of 30 mph for Smith Road and Reids Bend Road in Precinct 1 was approved.
• The court authorized the county judge to approve an annual maintenance contract with Cisco for the county’s IT equipment.