FARMINGTON — The Police Department is one step closer to receiving approximately $230,000 in federal funds to improve security at its Franklin Avenue location and assist officers, town staff and others do their jobs more safely.

Security cameras are seen Aug. 27 installed on a pole near American Forest Management, Inc. on Main St. in Farmington. Four cameras transmit images to the Police Department which hopes to install similar cameras at 13 locations in town. Pam Harnden/Livermore Falls Advertiser
At the June 11 Select Board meeting Town Manager Erica LaCroix said Senator Collins had moved the Police Department request for security equipment forward to the appropriations committee. In her report at the Aug. 13 meeting, LaCroix noted the Police Department’s application for Congressionally Directed Spending through Collins’ office cleared the Appropriations Committee and would receive the funds provided they aren’t cut during the budget hearings.
The Franklin Journal recently submitted questions to Police Chief Kenneth Charles and then sat down with Charles and Deputy Chief Shane Cote to learn more about this funding opportunity.

Four views of Main Street are seen Aug. 27 as transmitted to the Farmington Police Department receptionist’s office on Franklin Ave in Farmington. Pam Harnden/Livermore Falls Advertiser
“We became aware of opportunities for CDS funding during an outreach meeting with Senator Susan Collins’ office,” Charles said. “Certain investigations over my time as Chief of Police in Farmington highlighted the need for use of technology in public safety efforts. Of course, technology comes with a cost, and we try to be efficient and fair stewards of our community tax dollars.”
Of the $230,000 applied for, about $50,000 will be used for access controls and approximately $180,000 for new cameras, Charles noted.
“We got updated quotes, which are a little lower,” Charles said. “I think the approval process is such that they approve what is asked for and it might just mean maybe we can expand and get other types of equipment. We will see.”
“When you have fixed resources and staffing is such a challenge, the more technology we can use to augment what we do, you end up with a better product,” Charles said.

A 360 degree view of the waiting room is seen Aug. 27 from the office at the Police Department on Franklin Ave in Farmington. Pam Harnden/Livermore Falls Advertiser
The department is looking to improve security at its Franklin Avenue facility, Charles noted. “We have requested funding to purchase access controls and locking mechanisms that will help us manage visitors, provide audit logs for those entering sensitive areas such as our evidence room, and integrate with our camera system. These controls are similar to those in many locations, utilizing key cards or other transmitters to unlock doors in many business types, reducing the risk of lost or copied physical keys.”
Access controls are a standard for new construction in most if not all new construction public safety buildings, Charles said. “The reasons for that include the accountability requirements of law enforcement and the sensitive nature of equipment, information, and infrastructure housed within,” he noted. “Specific guidelines for tracking visitor access to the interior of the building and access to sensitive locations require this tracking. Ease of activating and deactivating keys remotely as needed.”
About eight years ago the department started thinking about placing cameras in the downtown and got quotes, Cote said. The Downtown TIF funded cameras about six years ago which are no longer functioning, he stated. “They are good, but not the right camera for the job,” he added.
Incidents happening in the last couple years have led to officers going business to business along the Wilton Road, Charles noted. Time is of the essence and the quality and direction of the camera is not always what is needed, he said.
As a result, funding has also been requested to purchase and install cellular connected cameras in strategic intersection locations in Farmington, Charles said. He shared several reasons why those will be important:
Investigative: This system will be used for historical review in investigations of a variety of incidents. On a regular basis, officers have requested and received surveillance video from businesses and residents that have been helpful in identifying and locating missing persons and violent offenders. It is extremely time consuming to locate and collect these videos which often do not provide the quality or view necessary to the investigation.
Roadway maintenance: Our Public Works Department and Maine Department of Transportation will be able to monitor road conditions, especially during inclement weather, and adjust staffing levels and equipment needs accordingly. We expect public access to live view of the cameras will be accessible allowing travelers to adjust travel decisions as well.
Public Safety Response: Many of the proposed cameras will be located in high traffic volume and crash prone locations. Our 911 center will have access to live view and likewise be able to monitor in real time crash incidents allowing them to relay relevant information to first responders.
“In-town camera system is becoming commonplace in many communities,” Charles said. “The value of video evidence is immeasurable in many criminal investigations and can speed up an investigation and free up investigators to other tasks. 911 and business phone lines are often inundated with the requests from the general public during inclement weather. Access to these cameras will hopefully reduce the volume of phone calls when not needed.”
If the funding comes through, cameras will be installed at 13 locations in town, including major intersections, Cote said. Everywhere there is a lot of traffic activity and traffic crashes, he noted. One will also be placed at the new Walton’s Mill Park to ensure things are safe there, he added.
Charles used the recent propane truck rollover to share how cameras could help. If a camera had been available, dispatch could have seen what was going on and crafted a detour, he said. It would improve safety for emergency responders and community members, he noted.
Charles stressed privacy will be considered. The cameras will not be looking into businesses or private residences, rather on publicly accessible areas. “We recognize people would be concerned,” he said. “We will take measures to address that ahead of time.”
Cameras similar to the ones being looked into for purchase are installed downtown now, a camera provides 360 degree views of the waiting room at the Police Department, Cote said.
“If we don’t get funded, it would be a difficult project to implement without substantial out of area funding,” Charles said. “We would keep limping along like we do.”
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