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Manistee City Police Chief Josh Glass said the previous room had a magic mirror, which is no longer the norm, and that the room’s audio and video recording technology is “in the last stages.”
“Technology expands rapidly and no longer lasts. We were temporarily forced to rely on the Little River Band from , and it took us some time to figure out the technical issues we had,” says Glass.
Also, the previous setup required officers outside the interview room to gather in a corner and listen to computer screens to see and hear the live interview.
The technology used in the new room is the same as that used by the Tribal Department of Public Safety and Manistee’s Lakeshore Child Advocacy Center.
“So being a Lakeshore officer and former detective, I am very familiar with being able to go to the Tribal Police Department and actually get my hands on it and see how easy it is,” Glass said. rice field.
requirements
Citing Public Act 479 of 2012, Glass said states have requirements for law enforcement interview room recording systems.
The law, he said, means that interview room technology must meet certain standards.
“If you were being interrogated while in custody, someone is in custody and is being questioned about a specific crime … (and) there are criteria regarding recording capabilities, camera capabilities, microphones, dates, and timestamps, And … each of these standards has requirements,” he said.
These requirements imply aspects such as the use of digital recording formats, capturing at least 24 frames per second, and compatibility with universal playback systems.
The move to using better technology wasn’t just about being compliant.
“But[it]was also done as a way of providing public service and public safety. “There is no better evidence than an audio-video recording.”
Departments also have rules to follow regarding how interview recordings are stored, for how long, and other details.
According to Glass, it’s important to record clear audio and video from the interview room.
Detective Sergeant. Kirsten Goodspeed is the officer who uses this room the most.
“Our detective found out about it and she approved it… easy to use and clear,” he said.
The room is equipped with a camera and audio recording system, allowing officers to work in pairs.
“It’s not uncommon for an interview with Detective Goodspeed with one cop watching, or she watching the cop (interview) and taking a break and exchanging notes,” says Glass.
“Having someone other than the interviewer observe the interview in real time is very important. There are many things that can be missed during an interview. For one idea or concept, say, ‘Don’t forget to ask about A, B, or C.'”
Sound-absorbing panels are installed to prevent echoes during interviews.
Another factor in this project was the cost of audiovisual technology. According to Glass, this is expensive.
“We feel very fortunate that this project was funded by a local Revenue Share (Board Grant),” he said.
According to the December 12 meeting minutes, the three-member committee unanimously voted to award the department $12,682 to purchase and install a new interview room recording system.
Glass said the city had planned to upgrade the interview room in Manistee’s capital improvement plan.
“We’re glad we were using grants instead of spending taxpayer money,” he said, adding that the grants covered all the costs.
The room was completed step by step.
How it will be done in the future
Glass said the room is part of the division’s vision of becoming futuristic and more modern.
“This goes back to 2020, when I was the first (appointed) police chief and I looked at infrastructure and all that and I was like, ‘What can be improved, what can be improved, how can those improvements be done? Funding and what is the vision for the division?’” Glass said.
By removing the magic mirrors and changing the initial layout of the interview room, the department built an armory next to the interview room to keep items such as guns that officers didn’t want the public to have access to more securely in a locked room. I could have saved it. .
Improving the room’s technology and creating the arsenal was guided in part by a larger three-year project that the department began working on in early 2022 to pursue accreditation for the first time in the department’s history. .
Accreditation means that the department must meet a number of criteria.
The Michigan Police Chiefs Association lists 58 police agencies as licensed in the state. The closest licensed police stations to Manistee are Ludington Police Station and Traverse City Police Station.
The Michigan Police Department also began a three-year certification process in 2020, according to a post on the state’s website.
Glass has previously said the certification process is “the gold standard in law enforcement” and “probably the greatest effort the department has made in at least 20 years.”
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