Moran police chief to add body camera

MORAN — Shane Smith soon may have another high-tech advantage as Moran’s chief of police.
Smith told city councilmen Monday evening his department received a $1,123 grant from Kansas Department of Transportation for participating in its Click-It-Or-Ticket campaign to encourage seatbelt usage. Proceeds of the grant may be used for equipment purchases.
Smith said he would pursue information about a video-audio camera that he would wear, either as head gear or on his shirt. It would be activated anytime Smith is involved in a traffic stop or other police business.
The camera would be similar to those used by Allen County and Iola officers.
Recordings give an officer’s view of what occurs during the course of any activity, which has proved valuable in other jurisdictions in both investigations and court cases.
Smith said the camera itself would cost less than $600, but he has yet to determine cost of software to enable recordings to be stored in a secure server.
The Moran police cruiser now has a camera mounted on its dash.
Smith told councilmen he thought changes in the way Moran dealt with pet dogs were unnecessary. Council members had considered banning dogs from being kept outdoor on chains, restricting them to pens where they could roam freely.
“Personally, I think as long as a dog has food, water and shelter, that’s enough,” he said, adding that he seldom saw an instance where it appeared a dog was uncomfortable being restrained outdoors on a chain.
“If we notice a dog isn’t being taken care of, we can do something then,” Mayor Phillip Merkel interjected.
Councilmen were told the merger of Marmaton and Osage townships and Moran fire departments was official, with all paperwork signed.
Merkel, Moran fire chief, said the merger effectively made little difference in how the three entities operated. All trucks are stationed in Moran and Marmaton and Osage townships have had a working relationship for about 50 years.
“Mainly, it’s just about how paperwork is filled out,” Merkel observed. “The way we fight fires won’t change.”
Councilmen met in executive session for 15 minutes to consider raises to salaries and benefits, but put off any decisions until their Dec. 1 meeting.