Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
The distance between electronic files and a responding officer just got shorter.
Cheyenne County Sheriff Adam Frerichs met with the Cheyenne County Board of Commissioners on March 1.
Part of his report updated the commissioners on a new computer system. Each department vehicle will have a mobile computer. There will also be a camera in each vehicle and deputies will be wearing body cams. The digital body cams will be linked to the in-car camera, Frerichs said. The car camera will automatically download files.
However, the body cams will be manually downloaded.
The mobile computer system was paid for with a $15,000 grant
Frerichs said he initially wasn't a supporter of body cams. That changed when an incident in a regional department had an incident that could have been resolved with the use of a body cam.
“I'm firmly landed that body cameras are a good idea,” he said.
Frerichs also discussed the county's SWAT team. He said the team's vests are outdated. However, an answer has already been offered. He said a local doctor is “always knocking on my door” to help support the department. Cost of updating the team's vests is $3,500.
“That will cover the cost of the panels,” he said.
He also said he is pursuing a possible grant to purchase an armored vehicle. The vehicle would be completely paid for by the grant.
“I would rather have it and never need it,” Frerichs said.
If the county is awarded the grant, the vehicle would be the property of the sheriff's department.
Frerichs also asked the commissioners to conduct an auction this summer to clear the impound lot.
“No-Shave November” has resulted in funds for a scholarship. The department conducts the No-Shave November each year November through March with staff paying $20 per month for the privilege of not shaving. Frerichs noted even those who do not participate can donate to the program. This year, the program resulted in a $500 scholarship for a local high school senior.
“It is available to any Cheyenne County student,” he said.
The scholarship will be paid directly to the college the recipient plans to attend.
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