Updates on Possible New Milford Police Headquarters, Body Camera Data

MILFORD, CT — The following is information from a recent Milford Board of Police Commissioners meeting and includes updates on body cameras and the quest for a new Police Headquarters.

The meeting occurred earlier this month:

Chief’s General comments – Chief Keith Mello reported the Department has started its 25th session of the Police Academy with 32 recruits working on their training. He also reminded members that the proposed budget will include the cost for body worn cameras ($107,000 reoccurring cost each year). As well the budget will include the support costs for police and fire radio.

Chief Mello explained the reoccurring cost for the storage of the body camera data and added it is hopeful that by December 2016 this department will be one of the first in the state to be using full deployment of this equipment.

Chairman Richard Smith updated the members on the progress of the Police Dept. Building Committee who recently met and reviewed the architect’s schematics of this facility as the proposed site for a new headquarters. He stated he felt the architect has done the best he could with what he has to work with and the committee is still looking at alternative sites primarily because of cost.

Comm. Rubenstein asked if the committee does find an alternative site, would the parcel of land where the current headquarters is be sold and if so, would those proceeds go toward the new facility. It was explained that would be the case and then this property would once again go back on the tax rolls.

Chief Mello added that in conversation at the recent committee meeting it was noted that when this new facility is built, it would be the last Police Department facility this city would need to build.