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New digital recording system approved for Sheriff’s Office
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By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
“Imagine having an 11-year-old VCR tape player bolted in the trunk of your car. That car travels on dusty, rough, gravel roads, is expected to be operational when it’s 20 below zero and when it’s 100 degrees above, inside that trunk. That is what we currently have to depend on to record evidence used in a court of law. Our current system is very out-dated. We are spending considerable funds every year repairing the system. It’s time to update what we have.”
That’s how Houston County Chief Deputy Scott Yeiter started out his sales pitch to have all 13 Sheriff Department vehicles updated to a new digital recording system. The county board listened to the information provided by Yeiter, Sheriff Doug Ely and County Attorney Sue Bublitz and unanimously approved a motion to purchase the new system. The entire system, including installation, and training comes with a price tag of $70,000.
Yeiter said he and County Financial Director Casey Bradley have been working out a way to pay for the new system without increasing the Sheriff Department’s budget. Yeiter said he and Ely felt the department could squeeze one more year out of the oldest squad car that was slated to be replaced in 2009. That would save approximately $26,000. The county also has a line item for miscellaneous technical purchases, which this would fall under.
Yeiter explained with the current system the VHS tapes are handled by the officer on duty and kept in that squad. Copies of a tape must be made for both the prosecution and defense for a trial. Making VHS copies can be a long and laborious endeavor.
“We’ve looked at trying to get a grant for this system, but just haven’t found any. This is something we’ve been working on for some time. The price has come down quite a bit from when this technology first came out about six years ago. I realize with the budget crunch, this is a tough time to be doing something like this. But it really could save the county quite a bit of money in the long run,” Yeiter added.
The new system replaces the original rear view mirror of the car. The camera is positioned right next to the rear view mirror/computerized receiver and records action in front and behind at the same time. The system is also an infrared camera and will capture action in darkness.
The system also includes a wireless microphone which has up to a one-mile range from the vehicle. The system comes with a two-year warranty, and all upgrades are provided at no additional cost to the county.
“Good audio and video evidence can make a big difference in a court case,” Bublitz said. “In fact, many times when the defense sees the recorded evidence we have, they decide not to go through with a jury trial.”
Yeiter added that according to the most recent figures, 97 percent of the time an officer is exonerated when a good video is part of the evidence. “And that speaks volumes as to how important having good video really is.”
Part of the cost of the system includes a server upgrade which would be used to store all the digital information, and also improve the existing computer system at the Sheriff’s Office.
Ely also pointed out that the present system is so old, that the department is having a hard time finding VHS tapes. Yeiter added he recently went to every discount store in the La Crosse area and was only able to find 30 VHS tapes to purchase. Last year the Sheriff’s Department used 150 tapes.
“I feel we could save a lot of money in overtime, settle more cases before they would go to trial, and it sounds as if the current system we have is about shot,” Commissioner Dave Corcoran said.
“I agree with Dave. This is something that we probably should do. But I hope everyone knows with the tight budget, we have to keep our sharpest pencils out,” Commissioner Jack Miller added.
Commissioner Tom Bjerke asked if there was any value left in the current tape system. Yeiter replied the county could try to sell the system on eBay or at the annual county auction.
“One more thing,” Yeiter noted before the motion to approve was made, “this system is made in the USA!”
The motion to approve the purchase was made by Miller and seconded by Commissioner Bob Augedahl.
The new system should be installed in all the vehicles by mid-April.
You can contact Charlie Warner at
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