Clarksville council approves police purchases

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October 1, 2012

Clarksville council approves police purchases

$219,562 to be used for cars, data tablets

By MATT KOESTERS matt.koesters@newsandtribune.com The News and Tribune Mon Oct 01, 2012, 08:50 PM EDT

CLARKSVILLE — The Clarksville Town Council unanimously approved an appropriation requested by Police Chief Mark Palmer for $219,562 out of local option income tax funds for the purchase of several pieces of new equipment.

The equipment includes the purchase of two new Dodge Charger cruisers and one SUV for detectives at the cost of $78,000, and 41 data terminals at the cost of about $75,000.

The data terminals, which Palmer said will be tablets akin to the iPad or the Samsung Galaxy, include air cards for data transmission and software used by police to check license plates and criminal backgrounds.

“This is basic equipment,” Palmer told the council before they voted to approve the appropriation. “It seems like a lot, but this is probably stuff we should have had a long time ago.”

Palmer said the department had considered purchasing laptop computers, but found the option to not be as cost-effective. Purchasing an equal number of laptops would have cost upwards of $130,000, not including software or data-transmission capability, Palmer said.

Palmer pointed out that the tablet computers are more portable and easier for officers to take in and out of cars.

The purchase also includes the refitting of a department-owned 2010 Ford Expedition for use as a K-9 vehicle at the cost of $8,188.14. The department has received donations for the purchase of a police dog and equipment, Palmer said.

Other items to be purchased include front- and rear-mounted speed detection units ($20,016), rifle mounts for 22 vehicles ($7,106), 15 portable breath testers ($6,540), 41 personal video recorders ($6,929), 21 sets of stop sticks ($9,890) and a speed radar trailer ($7,000).

The speed radar trailer will be posted around the town to display the speed of passing vehicles.

Palmer said the LOIT fund has the money he needs in place to make the capital purchase.

“It’s not going to cost anything additional. That’s what that money is utilized for,” Palmer said. “It’s there for training, it’s there for equipment and it’s there for the needs of the public in reference to police and fire.”

COUNCIL REMOVES PROPERTY FROM SURPLUS LIST

The council unanimously voted to rescind a surplus designation on a town-owned house, located at 1205 W. Harrison Ave. at the request of the town’s Historic Preservation Commission.

Town attorney Rebecca Lockard told the council the property has been discovered to have historic significance. The commission wants to restore the home and rent it out to generate a stream of revenue.

“If they’re going to try to fix it up, I’m all for that,” Councilman Don Tetley said.

Clarksville historian and commission member Jane Sarles said the house is a pre-fabricated house made by the Sears Roebuck Company, built in 1939.

“There aren’t that many Sears houses around,” Sarles said. “... It makes it worth saving.”