Council Approves Dash Cams for MPD Squads

Muskego Police Department squad cars will be equipped with dash mounted cameras, as the Common Council authorized the $54,512 expense Tuesday night.

Eight squad cameras as well as the installation, software, and storage needed to hold the video will be purchased with the funds, which exceeded original cost estimates of $50,000, mainly due to the cost of the commercial-grade storage area network that the video will require.  The additional dollars will come from excess funds left over from other projects.

MPD Capt. John Latour told the finance committee prior to the council meeting that the equipment purchased "would best serve this community, and we will be able to use this for an extended period of time.  

Alderman Keith Werner lauded the move, saying that communities that have the cameras have save time in going to court as the video often eliminates question of whether officers did not follow procedure, and cuts down on a city's liability.  

However Alderman Noah Fiedler asked "if the city already has police liability insurance, is this necessary?"

Mayor John Johnson admitted, "for a long time, I wasn't a fan of (cameras).  However, when I looked at the data and seen that it saves time and money for cities, I have changed my mind."