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6,250 subscribers www.TML1.org Volume 66, Number 9 June 8, 2015 Coalition calls on lawmakers Police weighing the benefits of body cameras to address road funding crisis BY KATE COIL Transportation funding addressed during Annual Conference TML Communications Specialist The Transportation Coalition Police departments nationwide of Tennessee (TCT) recently held a are weighing the benefits of outfit- news conference, streamed live over ting their officers with body cam- the Internet from Nashville, to call on eras and whether they would help state lawmakers to address Tennes- alleviate public concerns over police see’s transportation infrastructure conduct in the wake of some recent crisis that threatens the safety of high-profile incidents. drivers and the economic competi- In Tennessee, legislation was tiveness of the state. introduced this year that would re- “Tennessee’s transportation quire all law enforcement officers system is now in a crisis,” said Su- to wear wide-angle body cameras sie Alcorn, executive director of the at all times when the officer is on Tennessee Infrastructure Alliance. duty. (SB 868 by Sen. Sara Kyle and “At a time when our state is growing Sen. Jim Tracy HB 712 by Rep. Brenda Gilmore). – in terms of population and econo- Sen. Jim Tracy, chair of Videos recorded by these cameras my – we no longer have the ability to the Senate Transportation would have to be maintained by agencies for seven days, but cannot create and maintain a transportation Committee, and Kent Starwalt, be destroyed if the footage contains infrastructure to support it.” member of the Tennessee The Transportation Coalition evidence that may be used in the Police departments nationwide are considering the adoption of body Transportation Coalition, will investigation of a crime or complaint of Tennessee, which the Tennessee update TML members on the cameras for officers to ease concerns of residents. The Maryville Police Municipal League is a member of, against the officer. growing transportation issues Department has been using such cameras for several years, and Chief formed late last year to shed light The bill further provides that facing our state, as part of the Tony Crisp says they have proven to be a valuable resource. on the growing transportation issues “no video recording made under and to put pressure on Tennessee’s information provided during this bill may be duplicated and made Crisp said his department has six “We have had cameras in our patrol lawmakers to address those issues. the Second General Session available to the public by a law cameras they have been using for cars for a number of years, and it’s Bill Moore, chairman of the on Monday, June 8, from 9 enforcement agency until final dis- about a year and a half as part of a been very beneficial to have those Tennessee Infrastructure Alliance to 10:15 a.m. at the Nashville position of any criminal charges that pilot program but is already working cameras in our cars. I’ve always felt, and former chief engineer for TDOT, Convention Center. arise from the event or events that on more cameras. even going back to in-car cameras See ROADS on Page 6 were recorded” and no law enforce- “We assigned two per shift, for that the cameras are more of a benefit ment agency may reproduce these daytime and night to see how they to the officer than anybody because videos for commercial footage. would perform in different lighting it shows what did in fact happen. It To finance cameras, the bill stip- and weather conditions,” Crisp said. is certainly a very valuable tool in TN Municipal Bond Fund ulates that grants, private donations “We have since ordered 22 more. the prosecution of offenders, even and federal funding can be used to And after July, we plan to order an in something as simple as a DUI. reaches $4 billion mark obtain these cameras and if federal additional 10. It’s strictly for our uni- Instead of the officer just testifying funding is not available to an agency, form personnel who are assigned to and just trying to portray the condi- Savings to cities exceeds $575 M that agency is exempt from the bill. patrol or traffic, which would be our tion that person was in, you now not The Tennessee Municipal Bond A poll conducted by Vanderbilt initial response officers. If you were only have the officer telling them Fund (TMBF) achieved a pair of University’s Center for Democratic to call 911, it would be those officers what condition the person was in but milestones recently. TMBF has Institutions indicated a majority of who would respond that would use you have video tape.” loaned $4 billion and has now closed bipartisan support for police body those cameras.” The body cameras currently in more than 1,250 loans. cameras among Tennessee residents This is not the first time the use by the Maryville Police Depart- “These milestones show with 86 percent of respondents department has experimented with ment are “about the size of a pack of TMBF’s ongoing commitment to saying officers should be required equipping officers with body camer- cigarettes,” according to Crisp, and providing your community with the to wear small cameras while on as. Crisp said the department tested are worn on the chest of an officer. loans you need at the lowest cost duty. some cameras four to six years ago, Crisp said there are other models al- so that you can create opportunities Joshua Clinton, co-director but held off on adopting them be- lowing officers to clip cameras onto for your communities to grow,” of the poll, said equal numbers of cause the quality of the technology their collars and glasses. He said the said Charles G. “Bones” Seivers, respondents who were identified as was still in its early stages. battery power of the cameras lasts for president and CEO of the Tennessee Democrats and Republicans favored Now that the technology has about one shift and the cameras can Municipal Bond Fund. cameras for officers, which received caught up, Crisp said the cameras be recharged on the same docking The TMBF was created by the Charles G. “Bones” Seivers more widespread report than any have proven beneficial for the de- stands that download the video. TML Board of Directors in 1986 to other issue raised by the statewide partment. Video has also been useful for provide municipalities in Tennessee day to ensure they provide the best poll. “It’s something we saw as new training purposes, Crisp said. with low cost funds. It began full service and the loan options you want Maryville Police Chief Tony technology we could use,” he said. See CAMERAS on Page 8 operations by offering a pooled at the best price.” variable rate loan program as well TMBF feels that the valuable as an alternative loan program. part of its job is maintaining a great To date, the TMBF variable relationship with all municipal of- Cities given more tools to fight blight rate program has saved cities and ficials. This is a practice we have BY KATE COIL counties more than $575 million in strived to create over the past 29 interest costs alone. TMBF was cre- years. Seivers said, “When we look As many municipalities con- ated for the sole purpose of saving at the number of repeat borrowers, tinue to deal with blight created by cities and towns money. “I feel we we get a renewed sense of dedication the collapse of the housing market are accomplishing our mandate,” that makes us work harder every during the Great Recession, a new added Seivers. day to prove that the faith these state law aims to help cities stream- In recent years, the TMBF has communities have placed in us is not line the process of putting tax-delin- made a few changes in an effort to misplaced. I sincerely appreciate our quent real estate back on the tax rolls. better serve Tennessee communi- partnership with the Tennessee Mu- Signed by Gov. Bill Haslam on ties. TMBF began offering a fixed nicipal League, and our relationship May 20, Senate Bill 331 will shorten rate loan option in addition to its with all cities and towns in the state.” the amount of time delinquent prop- variable rate option. Since adding Seivers stated that he is excited erty owners can repay their taxes the fixed rate option, TMBF has about the future of TMBF. “We offer and redeem their property, thereby grown and the fixed rate loan option many features and advantages that allowing municipalities to sell the has become very popular. can save you money. All we ask is properties more quickly. “We could not have done this that you give us a chance to provide Owners of properties deemed without all the hard work of our you with options. We were created by vacant or abandoned under the law dedicated board members and our you, for you. Our board of directors have 30 days from the entry of the extraordinary staff,” Seivers com- is composed of municipal officials order confirming the sale to redeem mented. “They work hard every and we are always here for you.” the property. Those owning properties or Update on FCC’s wireless siting unoccupied parcels with delinquent While the economy and the housing market continue to improve, many taxes going back five years or less cities are still dealing with properties that were foreclosed upon or left On May 5, 2015, the Office of • Following a supplemental sub- have one year to redeem their prop- vacant during the Great Recession.