CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Charlottetown Police Services is upgrading its video surveillance software and improving its ability to do interrogation interviews.
The police department is getting a new software program and video server at a cost of $49,711.
Charlottetown city council recently voted unanimously to approve the purchase.
Last year, the police department identified the need to replace its Milestone video servicer. Since 2014, the service has been using Milestone Husky M50 video server as the backbone of its e-watch program and police interview and interrogation rooms.
According to information the department supplied the city, there have been problems with the software and hardware where police interviews have not been recording properly.
“This is very concerning given that some of these interviews were in relation to serious crimes in our community," the department says.
“Further to software issues, the rapid growth of our e-watch program has put us at the end of our available camera licenses. Currently, our software on the video server is end of life and no longer supported by the developer making patches and potential fixes not an option."
As a result, an expenditure allotment of $50,000 was authorized by council in the 2020-21 capital budget.
Vendors were identified in the Atlantic region that could not only provide pricing but accessible and timely support.
Three prices were quoted — Paladin Technologies, $52,008; Stanley Security, $55,827; and, Controls Equipment, $43,227.
Council voted unanimously to accept the price from Controls Equipment. With shipping and taxes, the price rounded up to $49,711.
