CANTON POLICE DEPARTMENT
MEDIA CONTACT:
Craig Wilsher, Deputy Police Chief
734-394-5420
UTILITY CONTACT INFORMATION:
Julia Dorio, Jackson Spalding for Utility, Inc.
1-800-597-4707 x 701
jdorio@jacksonspalding.com
Partnership with Utility, Inc. Enhances Transparency and Safety through Technology Ecosystem
CANTON, Mich. – Following approval from the Canton Township Board of Trustees to procure body-worn cameras, the Canton Police Department is today announcing its partnership with law enforcement technology provider, Utility, Inc., which will equip the township’s 80 uniformed patrol officers with its patented BodyWorn™ camera technology.
“We are looking forward to replacing our outdated body-worn and in-car camera systems with this new Utility product. We are confident the system will provide additional safety for our officers, as well as create reliable documentation of events which will allow for the transparent model of policing that communities have come to expect,” said Deputy Police Chief Craig Wilsher.
The five-year, $660,500 contract with Utility, Inc. includes outfitting officers with BodyWorn cameras, which are embedded in the officers’ uniforms to prevent them from detaching. The camera technology utilizes artificial intelligence to create situational awareness and offers features like a two-minute buffer, which allows for capture of two minutes of video and audio prior to the camera being activated, along with automatic, policy-based recording triggers designed to remove the burden from the officers to turn on the devices.
“We’re proud to serve as a strategic partner to the Canton Police Department as it furthers its commitment to the community,” said Michael Nark, President and CEO of Utility, Inc. “Our goal is to ‘never ask officers to do something that technology can do for them,’ and the implementation of BodyWorn technology provides the Canton officers a smart, automated solution so they can maintain focus on those they serve.”
The department is also utilizing Utility’s RocketIoT™ in-car video communications, equipping 40 agency vehicles to further increase officer connectivity and enhance the department’s technology ecosystem as it continues to support transparency and trust with the community.
“The Township Board looks forward to the implementation of this new technology that will drastically increase accountability and transparency for our community,” said Michael Siegrist, Canton Township Clerk. “Now, more than ever before, it is important to build trust between law enforcement and the public. This is one of many tools that will help construct a stronger foundation of our public safety partnership,” Siegrist adds.
Additional details regarding timeline of deputy training and technology deployment will be shared as the department and Utility, Inc. teams collaborate to develop a project plan.
About Utility, Inc.
Utility, Inc. provides law enforcement officers with an intuitive platform for effectively capturing, managing and releasing video evidence. Utility’s BodyWorn™ camera and RocketIoT™ in-car video system incorporate real-time communications, policy-based automatic recording functionality and real-time GPS positioning for the best situational awareness possible during critical times. Meanwhile, its AVaiLWeb™ cloud-based digital evidence management solution securely stores captured evidence and offers Smart Redaction™.
About BodyWorn™
The BodyWorn™ camera utilizes unique communication capabilities and specific recording triggers to automatically initiate video recording. Triggers are set by individual law enforcement departments based on their recording policies. Cameras may operate singularly or in conjunction with RocketIoT™ and come equipped with built-in accelerometers, prone positioning and light bar sensors to detect doors opening, rapid motion, Geofence entry, etc. Triggers can be updated at any time via the video management system, AVaiLWeb™. The BodyWorn camera and the Rocket IoT system offer unique integration with real-time GPS reporting on officers and vehicles, auto-related video for synchronized video playback, dock-less evidence offload and more.
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