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Hubbard to obtain police cameras

HUBBARD — After much discussion in the past year, Hubbard officials have moved forward on getting body cameras for the police officers and in-car cameras for the police vehicles.

This is the first time Hubbard police will be wearing body cameras, officials said.

A training room on the lower floor of the police department has been prepared as a new training area for both in-person and online remote training on the cameras.

Mayor Ben Kyle said he and Safety Director Lou Carsone, police Chief Bob Thompson and city council have discussed the need to get body cameras not only to protect the officers, but residents as well. He said the cameras were discussed throughout last year with officials reviewing available funds in the city budget.

“There are many communities that have been getting the body cameras for their police officers. We have spent a lot of time and research looking at different companies that offer the cameras. This is not anything that has been taken lightly,” Kyle said.

Council late last year approved getting the cameras from Digital Ally Inc. for under $50,000, which will provide cameras for the department’s 15 officers and vehicles.

“The cameras provide an amazing use of cutting-edge technology. This is an investigative tool which helps with police investigations and sending items to the Trumbull County prosecutor’s office. This is a major step forward,” Kyle said.

Included with the camera system is a new cloud storage with the software necessary to manage the recordings.

Kyle said policies are also being created on use of the body cameras.

Warren, Girard and Niles, and the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office are among other communities that have purchased body cameras for police.

Carsone had said at a recent meeting the new training room in the basement is functional.

Kyle said officers will receive training on the body cameras and can utilize the new larger scale training room that was covered by $424,000 in CARES Act funds.

“The room will provide a whole new level of interactive training. The police chief can lead the training from his office,” Kyle said.

Also, Councilman-at-Large Ryan Hallapy said the police department also was able to update the security camera system that monitors the interior and exterior of the building, which he said has been in need of upgrading for several years.

The new system includes replacement of the 31 cameras and a recorder. Hallapy said the system was able to use the existing cabling to help the city save money.

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