Moses Lake police seek funds for surveillance

MOSES LAKE - The Moses Lake Police applied for an $11,400 federal grant to buy more video surveillance cameras.

The Edward Burn Memorial Justice Assistance Grant could fund the purchase of two cameras and related equipment, which would assist in preventing graffiti and other illegal activity, according to Moses Lake Police Chief Dean Mitchell.

"In discussing the grant with staff we decided this is probably a very valuable tool," Mitchell told Moses Lake Council members last week. "These cameras are the most up to date with the most recent technology. They allow us to do some recording and we can access them from our (computers)."

The city currently has several cameras affixed to structures around the city, such as on the police department roof to monitor the Civic Center construction site.

The new cameras will not be permanently mounted and can be moved to problem spots as needed, Mitchell said.

"We'd probably have them in the downtown area, but if we have a perpetual situation where crimes are being committed we can move these all over town to target areas," he said. "A lot of drug task forces use these same types of cameras."

The Moses Lake City Council approved acceptance of two donations to the police department last Tuesday.

The Women's Education and Leadership fund Board made a $1,500 donation intended to "improve station conditions, enhance safety or contribute to the spirit and morale of the Moses Lake Police Department," according to a statement by the WEL fund Board.

This is second of two donations the department has received through the non-profit organization, according to Mitchell, who said the money will be used to purchase two sets of body armor for patrol officers.

The city council accepted a $1,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation, which will be used to purchase digital cameras for patrol officers, Mitchell said.

"We try to place them in each car for when an officer is dispatched to an accident scene or a domestic violence situation or a burglary," he said. Digital cameras are quicker and easier to use than the more technically advanced cameras employed during major crime scene investigations, he added.