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Item No: 8B Type of Business: Consent Agenda Administrator Review: City of Mounds View Staff Report To: Honorable Mayor and City Council From: Mike Sommer, Police Chief Item Title/Subject: Resolution 6788 Authorizing the Purchase of Digital Voice Recorders Date of Report: April 10, 2005 Background Minnesota law requires law -enforcement agencies to record statements from all persons who are in custody. The Mounds View Police Department has been using handheld cassette tape recorders for this purpose. The Ramsey County Attorney's office has indicated they will be setting a countywide standard for all law -enforcement agencies regarding custodial statements. They have announced that law -enforcement agencies will be required to submit audio recordings related to cases for prosecution in the digital DSS format (digital speech standard) this year. This format allows audio recordings to be stored on the computer network. They can be forwarded or transcribed directly from anyone having access to the computer file. The digital format makes transferring these recordings much more efficient to prosecutors, transcriptionists, defense attorneys and others requiring copies of audio statements. The Police Department has a forfeiture fund account from which proceeds from vehicle forfeitures are deposited into. Minnesota law sets guidelines on how these funds can be utilized. The purchase of police equipment is an authorized use of forfeiture funds. This account is sufficiently funded for this purchase. The Police Department requires nine handheld digital recorders along with the accompanying equipment for transcription and telephone recording. The Olympus model DS4000 fits the new required standard and is suitable for police use. The Loffler Companies Inc., a local distributor, carries the lowest bid for this recorder at $309 each (includes docking /transferring station, recharge stand and battery, A/C power supply, USB cable, 32 mg card and download software.) The Loffler Companies Inc. have supplied this model of recorder to the St. Paul Police Department, New Brighton Police Department, Maplewood Police Department, Roseville Police Department, Ramsey County Sheriff's Department and many other law enforcement agencies in the state. The total cost for the Olympus DS4000 digital recorders, transcribing kit, supporting equipment, and tax required for the Police Department to change to this format is $3,500. Recommendation Staff recommends council approve the purchase of the hand held digital recorders and supporting equipment out of Police Forfeiture Funds in the amount of $3500. Mike Sommer Police Chief