Hampton council approves purchase of police body and dash cameras

Hampton council approved an initial purchase of body cameras and vehicle dashcams for the Hampton Township police department at its Feb. 23 meeting.

Hampton Police Chief Thomas Vulakovich requested the approval to purchase the cameras and camera systems using $36,845 out of the Capital Improvement Fund budget.

The total cost of the cameras will be $143,220 to be paid over the course of five years – breaking down to $28,644 annually. The amount for the first year requested by the chief is more than $28,644 due to the additional cost of installing the new systems in the police vehicles.

The township did apply for a grant to help with the cost of the cameras, but was not chosen to receive funds in the first round. Vulakovich said they are hoping to be chosen in future rounds.

Unanimous approval was given for the request by council for the dollar amount required for the initial purchase and installation.

“We have a lot of faith in Chief Vulakovich,” said councilman Richard Kernick. “Chief Vulakovich was very deliberate in waiting until the technology caught up to where, in his opinion, it was dependable and it was not overly expensive. Now was just the right time to go ahead and make this upgrade for our department.”

The camera systems will take 8 to 10 weeks for delivery. Once installation and training are completed, the police department estimates that they will be “up and running probably the beginning of July,” said Vulakovich.

In other business, a public hearing was held to discuss the redevelopment of the property at 4768 William

Flynn Hwy. (Route 8) by Strickland Brothers. The current plan is to tear down the current vacant structure on the site and build a new, 1,770 square foot quick-service oil change station. Initial approval was given only as conditional use, with more information on the site plan tabled until the March 23 council meeting.