AGENDA CAPTION:
Title
Consider approval of Resolution 2025-139R, approving an interlocal agreement with Hays County providing for the county to disburse a grant award to the city in the amount of $25,500.00 from the Department of Justice FY24 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Award for the purchase of financial crimes solution software, an infrared surveillance pole camera, and various forensic equipment and supplies; authorizing the City Manager, or her designee, to execute said interlocal agreement and all documents necessary to implement the grant award on behalf of the city; and declaring an effective date.
Body
Meeting date: August 5, 2025
Department: Police
Amount & Source of Funding
Funds Required: None
Account Number: To be assigned
Funds Available: $25,500
Account Name: To be assigned
Fiscal Note:
Prior Council Action: No action taken to date. There is no match or cost-sharing requirement for this grant.
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Background Information:
Hays County and the City of San Marcos were awarded a combined total of $37,516 in funding from the FY24 JAG program. Because the entities are located in a disparate jurisdiction, one entity must assume the lead. Hays County has agreed to serve as the fiscal agent with the City of San Marcos serving as a sub-awardee. The grant has already been awarded, so this item comes before the Mayor and Council to receive the award. The monies allotted to each entity are separate and can be used to purchase the equipment needed irrespective of what the other entity purchases.
To support better policing and investigative processes, the San Marcos Police Department seeks to use 2024 Local JAG Allocations dollars for the purchase of software and equipment. Specifically, the Police Department will use these funds for the purchase of a financial crimes investigation solution (Electronic Recovery and Analysis of Digital Evidence (ERAD)) as well as a dual-purpose modular pole camera. Further descriptions are provided herein:
1. ERAD provides law enforcement with investigative solutions related to financial crimes. For example, if a person burglarizes a car at a local hotel and then uses one of the stolen credit/debit cards in a nearby city, ERAD provides geo-fence services that allow law enforcement to identify digital sources that are at both locations. Important note: The geo-fence return is fully anonymized, containing only location-related information that the consumer has already agreed to disclose to a mobile application. It cannot be used to identify or track any person. Instead, a series of numbers, geo coordinates, and randomly generated words are provided to the law enforcement agency. With this information, law enforcement can apply for a search warrant and subsequently identify a witness or person of interest. This alone would not result in an arrest/search warrant, but instead is the first step of many that need to be taken to identify offenders who leave digital traces at crime scenes or individuals who may have witnessed the event.
Another component of ERAD is the provision of a card scanner, similar to what customers might see when they swipe their credit/debit card at a store. Law enforcement can use the provided scanner to read prepaid cards or credit/debit cards that a person may have in their possession, thus determining if these cards are legitimate or part of a scam, such as stolen or fraudulently loaded cards. By giving law enforcement the ability to determine legitimate payment cards from counterfeit credit and debit cards, community members can be better protected from a growing crime industry that targets our residents and businesses.
2. The requested DPM (dual purpose modular) pole camera is a surveillance video camera that when deployed records just like any other video camera. It is a high-powered PTZ (pan/tilt/zoom) camera with optical zoom, which allows for specific general detail at long distances. The camera is not an LPR (license plate reader) and does not talk with any law enforcement databases that automatically identify a specific vehicle or a person. The camera will not be accessed by any outside law enforcement agency.
The camera can be monitored in real-time from a remote location, and this is key for several reasons:
A. Officer safety- Officers conducting physical surveillance of a known crime hot spot can and have been identified by counter-surveillance (being spotted by the suspect or friends of the suspect). It has caused officers to be confronted, followed, and doxed.
B. Vehicle use- with the deployment of a pole camera at a location, the officer would not have to spend hours conducting physical surveillance from a running (idling) vehicle, thus saving fuel. The officer can accomplish other tasks while the pole cam is deployed.
C. Officer Safety- If an arrest or search warrant were going to be attempted on a suspect or suspect residence, having the pole camera deployed and providing law enforcement real time intelligence is key for ensuring safety for all involved, including occupants/suspects.
D. Intelligence and Time- The Department does not have enough staff to provide 24/7 surveillance at any suspected location. Additionally, this is not cost-feasible. A camera, however, can provide images that are used to further law enforcement investigations.
Although this camera is being sought for the Investigative Divisions, other similar cameras have been deployed for a multitude of law enforcement needs, including but not limited to:
A. Deployed on a local residential street where a shooting occurred and retaliation was likely.
B. A camera was set up at a local motel where video evidence assisted with the successful arrest of an aggravated assault suspect (an aggravated assault means a deadly weapon was used, or serious bodily injury was caused).
C. A pole camera was set up at a local business area where the business was repeatedly targeted with graffiti. The business owner directly contacted the Police Chief and asked for relief. Because 24/7 surveillance is remarkably expensive and the Department does not have the staff needed, a camera was deployed to help capture any offender(s).
D. A pole camera was used at a local park where criminal mischief, fights, and other crimes were frequently reported. Parks have now acquired their own cameras.
E. Monitoring of planned protests from afar. This is advantageous because law enforcement presence can often incite members of any political side. The Police Department recently received a compliment from a local event organizer who praised the Department for helping coordinate a peaceful and lawful assembly while not being visible.
F. Cameras were deployed during President Obama’s visit to San Marcos and were planned for President Biden’s visit / debate.
What Is the DPM (dual purpose modular) Pole Camera?
The DPM Pole Camera is a high-definition, remotely accessible surveillance system designed specifically for law enforcement investigations. Built to blend into the environment, it provides officers with 24/7 video coverage of problem areas. Here are some specifics:
Camera Specifications (Axis Q6135-LE PTZ Network Camera)
• Camera Type: High-speed Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) network camera
• Optical Zoom: 32x optical zoom
• Resolution: HDTV 1080p (1920x1080)
• Low Light Performance: Lightfinder 2.0 and Forensic WDR for true color and clarity in dark environments
• Frame Rate: Up to 60 fps
• Storage: Internal DVR, holds several weeks of footage / records over itself.
• Connectivity: 5G cellular or Wi-Fi
• Power: Battery, solar, or AC power
• Deployment Time: <5 minutes
• Durability: IP66, IK10-rated for outdoor use and vandal resistance
Note: The Police Department will need to provide the SIM card for the cellular service/coverage (Static IP address) as we have done with all pole cameras. The cost for a SIM card for a static IP address is approximately $36-$42 a month.
The deployment and installation of the camera is usually on a utility pole or light pole that is installed by SMEU Utilities. The video feed is connected using 5G or Wi-Fi, so no trenching or cabling is needed.
The DPM camera will be used to assist law enforcement in watching and recording criminal activity in real time and in a discreet manner. The camera can also be deployed overtly (visible) to deter crime. Common uses include:
• Narcotics: Monitoring suspected felony level drug traffickers.
• Human Trafficking: Surveillance at truck stops, motels, transit corridors, etc.
• Gang Activity: Capturing violent crime hotspots or gang gatherings
• Vehicle Theft: Observation of chop shops or suspicious vehicle movement
• Arson: Surveillance of suspected arson prone areas
• Illegal Dumping: Monitor problem roads or rural areas
• Trespassing: Protect domestic violence victims, vacant properties, construction sites, vulnerable areas
• Public Events: Additional monitoring for crowd control and safety
• School Zones: Monitor potential drug activity and violence around schools
• Vehicle Burglaries: Surveillance of hot spots
The camera is only used for specific actions, and not mass surveillance. It will only be deployed for specific investigations or community requests, requested by an investigator, and monitored with only those that need to know for its deployment purpose. These investigations would be based on reported crimes and concerns by members of the community that creates a reasonable suspicion of crime in a specific area.
The Investigative Divisions have two older pole cameras that were added to the Mile-Stone Xprotect system that the City of San Marcos uses. They will run out of their warranty period and will no longer be serviced with the company for updates/warranty as the technology has reached its life cycle by 2026. The purchase of this new camera will help avoid any absence of technology to assist in investigating crime.
NOTE: The camera will NOT be accessed by any outside law enforcement agency. The camera is not an LPR (license plate reader) and does not talk with any law enforcement databases that automatically identify a specific person or vehicle.
Chief Standridge will not be present at this Council meeting, but Asst. Chief Brandon Winkenwerder and Commander Erik Spriegel will attend and be available for any questions.
Council Committee, Board/Commission Action:
Approve attached resolution.
Alternatives:
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Recommendation:
Staff recommend approval of attached resolution.