New Dash Cams Approved For Oswego Squad Cars

OSWEGO, IL — Five Oswego Police Department squad cars will be upgraded to WatchGuard dash cameras, to the tune of $25,575. The village signed off on the expense this week, which will be paid out of revenue the department's DUI fund. The Oswego Police Department currently uses two different in-car video systems — Utility and WatchGuard — within its patrol fleet, according to a memo from Police Chief Jeff Burgner.

In early 2016, the department began outfitting all newly purchased squad cars with WatchGuard in-car video systems, phasing the Utility systems out. Burgner said the Utility systems have become unreliable, noting that they've been a "constant source of failure."

Five squads currently still have the Utility system but are not scheduled to be replaced for several more years. "With the available funds in the DUI account, the IT Manager has strongly suggested that the Department upgrade these units to WatchGuard," the memo from Burgner said. "Utility is an aging in-car video product. The current models that are in production are nearing their useful life."

Burgner added that if those five systems aren't transitioned now, it will require two separate video systems to be moved to the new police department headquarters.

The five new WatchGuard systems will cost $25,575, plus $410 each for installation and removal of the old system.

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