The Hockley County Commissioners’ Court held a regular meeting Monday with the group approving items submitted by the Hockley County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) and the 286th District Attorney’s Office.
The Court considered the purchase of Axon in-car and body worn camera devices, equipment, and training to replace outdated hardware for use by the HCSO using SB22 funds.
It was explained to the Court that the HCSO has been using Coban since 2007. The company is used to manage videos recorded from the in-car and body worn cameras the department utilizes. Calling the process a “headache”, the system is not a server, web or cloud based system. As a result, the department must have physical hard systems in place to store all of the recorded footage.
It was noted that a system and battery crash happened last year and a large amount of data was lost. Currently, the storage system is working on Windows 10, but cannot be updated to Windows 11. At the time of the backup to Windows 10, the department was informed this was a quick fix that would be remedied in the future. However, the department was informed the system would no longer be supported by Windows 10 in Dec. 2025.
Currently, all the in-car and body worn cameras are out of warranty due to their age. The department is in the process of purchasing new vehicles and are also working to acquire four new in-car camera which will total roughly $38,000.
Finding themselves at a point where a jump to a different company can be made, Axon is has become one of the top candidates in the state among law enforcement agencies.
With the approval of the Axon purchase that would include the replacement of all equipment including, 10 in-car video systems, 21 body cameras for patrol and detention center including docking stations. The purchase would eliminate the need to have hard memory and drives within the department to store the video footage. The system is cloud based and includes unlimited storage which is covered in the purchase price as well.
The warranty covers five years for equipment and covers malfunctions or any damages sustained. Also, body cameras are considered a wearable electronic by Axon. That means all body cameras will be replaced after the first two and a half years which is also covered in the price. The replaced cameras will cover the remaining time of the five year warranty.
It was also mentioned that the HCSO purchased their taser’s through Axon last year. When used, data is saved and can be dumped into the same program that the new camera system will use which would allow for syncing of data across both items.
Additionally, the Levelland Police Department is making the switch to Axon which would allow for the departments camera systems to communicate with one another if the agencies respond to the same call.
While the department can use the SB 22 funds to pay each year for the service, Sheriff Chris Wischkaemper added that they are working a SPAG (South Plains Association of Governments) grant that would help cover the costs.
Following the item presentation, the Axon purchase with SB22 funds was approved by the Court.
Next, the group approved the purchase of two, 2024 Chevrolet Silverado PPV patrol vehicles for use by the HCSO through TIPS USA purchasing. The item was approved with little discussion.
District Attorney Donnie Yandell was in attendance as he was requesting to hire a part-time assistant district attorney through the use of SB22 funds.
Yandell explained that he wrapped up the accounting for the previous year to ensure there were no issues and decided to keep the individual who has been responsible for grants. The individual would be kept on as part-time instead of full-time and would be a remote position.
Yandell explained that the individual has all the necessary special training already needed for the position and there is not enough time for him to take on those grant responsibilities.
Hockley County Judge Sharla Baldridge also added that SB22 funds for a DA only allows for three things, an assistant district attorney, investigator and, or a victim impact coordinator.
The item was approved following the presentation.
The monthly Public Assistance Report was approved with Cara Phelan providing information about the report.
Phelan reported nine approvals with public assistance with two being rent and the remainder being utilities. Three were denied with one due to being over income, one was already receiving assistance through housing and the third was incomplete.
Sheriff Wischkaemper was approved to fill the vacant board seat on behalf of Hockley County for the Levelland Chamber of Commerce.
Additionally, a donation to Hockley County Memorial Library from Ann B. and John B. Weimer to purchase books in memory of Tom and Don McDonnell was approved.
Housekeeping items approved included the minutes of the special meeting held Jan. 27, all monthly bills and claims submitted to the Court dated through Feb. 3, the updated guidelines for the Federal Poverty Income Limit for Public Assistance applications, the audit report submitted by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts concerning the exit audit in the Hockley County Tax Office and the Rider for Bethany Castaneda, Deputy District Clerk and Ad Valorem tax refunds.