By Conrad Dudderar
Staff Writer
New, high-quality video surveillance will be installed at Canadian County-owned facilities after action by the county commissioners.
Commissioners, at their weekly meeting Dec. 13, approved paying DIGI Security Systems about $339,000 for a new security camera system at county government buildings
Canadian County Sheriff’s Lt. Mike Grimes recommended the purchase, which is being made through the vendor’s state contract. Two companies submitted bids for the project.
DIGI Security Systems will provide the surveillance camera package for $321,740.63 and improved lighting around county facilities for $16,740.
A remote monitoring station will be placed at the county sheriff’s office.
“Any department can go online and look at their (video) screens back up to 60 days,” Lt. Grimes explained. “That was one of the (bid) requirements I put in.
“For investigative purposes, we’ll be able to look back at something that might have happened 45-50 days earlier.”
DIGI Security Systems – which has offices in Moore, Tulsa and Dallas – will replace Canadian County’s existing security cameras.
The surveillance video will have “a whole lot better resolution” and be easier to view than the current system, County Commission Chairman Jack Stewart pointed out.
Lt. Grimes concurred.
“There’s been so much of an improvement in the security systems over the years, especially the past couple of years,” he added. “A number of these cameras cover 360 degrees, 270 degrees.
“And they’re high megapixel – 5, 10 and, in some cases, 12-megapixel input into the system.”
Most of the outside cameras will be infrared to help with any low-light areas.
As part of this project, security cameras may be added or removed as needed.
“That’s the advantage of being on state contract,” Grimes said.
The county sheriff’s lieutenant offered an example.
“If we get into this and see we want to add a couple more cameras at one of the maintenance buildings because we saw a ‘dead spot’ we didn’t anticipate before, we can do that,” he told county commissioners.
BODY-WORN CAMERAS
The Canadian County Sheriff’s Office recently accepted a donation that will further improve technology.
Norman and Louise Craig presented a $2,500 check to the sheriff’s office to buy two law enforcement body cameras.
The body cameras will be worn by on-duty Canadian County sheriff’s deputies.
Canadian County Commissioners Dec. 13 formally approved a resolution that allows the sheriff to accept the gift.
Meanwhile, Canadian Jail administrator Kristie Carter presented the weekly jail report showing 250 inmates in custody – with 219 prisoners at the El Reno detention center and 31 housed in other counties.
