The RedSpeed cameras are paying off for law enforcement, and thanks to a chunk of the funding that has been collected since the system went into operation the City of Cedartown is about to give the boys and girls in blue some extra capabilities.

Chief Jamie Newsome came before the Cedartown City Commission on Monday, May 1 for their work session and he along with City Manager Edward Guzman presented plans for how to use some of that influx of funding specifically earmarked by law to be used for public safety purchases.

The city has a good chunk of funding to work with for the purchases thanks to find money collected from the RedSpeed camera systems operating in front of the turn into Cedartown High School and on the bypass in front of Cedartown Middle School. Since going into operation in August 2022, more than $243,000 has been collected and saved, until now.

Newsome and Guzman in the spending requests presented a plan to spend a little over $117,000 on four major priorities: increased security in the form of cameras going up at local parks, a drone with capabilities meant for law enforcement use, five body shields, and four new radar signs that will help reduce speeding in certain areas.

Guzman noted the city wanted to wait before using any money gained from fines from the RedSpeed cameras to note what average collections will look like and to have a significant amount available for whatever law enforcement might seek to use the money for in equipment purchases.

WATCH: Cedartown City Commission Work Session – May 1, 2023

The largest of the funding requests is for the security cameras. The city is looking at a package that will include 19 cameras to go up at Peek Park, Bert Wood Youth and Athletic Complex, Turner Street Park, the Goodyear Soccer Complex, the softball field on Prior Street, Tom Biggers Field, and the Boys and Girls Club where a new mini soccer pitch is set to be built. The cameras will include infrared capabilities for being able record during day or night conditions, and will be cloud-based so officers can tie into the system when needed.

Commissioner Matt Foster was glad to hear that a need previously put forth to the city as a real need for park security is finally coming to fruition.

“This is going to be a very welcome thing for many people throughout the community,” he said.

Among the purchases that Newsome said was becoming a greater need in the department is for a drone with capabilities beyond what consumers can buy off the shelf. The Cedartown Police have had access to a drone thanks to a detective on the force who purchased one with his own money, but it isn’t enough for what Newsome said the city wants to be able to use it for out in the field on a regular basis.

He asked that same detective to pick out a drone with better capabilities, such as thermal vision from the air to be able to track suspects on the run through heavily wooded areas, or being able to get a top down view of vehicle collision sites for reporting purposes. It also comes with higher resolution cameras for capturing video and still photos for evidence, but the biggest perk will be the ability to fly the drone in less than ideal conditions.

“As our police department is moving into the modern age, it is almost not reasonable to not have one here,” Newsome said.

Two other items that Newsome said were worth the price: ballistic body shields and radar signage. The shields like body armor are able to stop small arms fire from suspects, but unlike a Kevlar vest gives an officer behind it full coverage against an attacker opening fire on police.

Cedartown Police are requesting five shields – four distributed to sergeants and a fifth kept at the department as a spare – and asked to ensure they had flashlights built in. The city will pay $6,207 for each shield, but Newsome pointed out correctly that a price tag can’t be put on the life of a police officer.

The radar signs – four in total – are also being sought as a way to help slow down motorists. Newsome said in an effort to save money, the signs aren’t fitted with every bell and whistle that is possible, but will be able to record speeds captured by the sign and displayed back to drivers. This information has thus far been valuable to city officials who have been tracking the traffic on North College Street where one sign is already in operation and slowing motorists down. A portable sign is in operation on John Hand Drive as well.

“It is going to be great data once the bridge project gets underway,” Guzman said. “And that data shows that when people see that sign, they start to slow down. When they see that number flashing, they slow down.”

Commission Chair Jessica Payton noted that despite the revenue generated from the fines, the number of tickets going out from RedSpeed is going down and significant improvement of driver safety in the area has increased.

“March has been the only month where we’ve had a full month – n0 breaks or anything – and we issued less than 1,000 tickets…. In, September and October, there were some that were over 100 mph. I think the last month the highest was 81,” she said.

“It so severely decreased the speed of those highest speeders, which I think is huge.”

She added that with the reduction in speed means safety for all drivers, especially when it comes to traffic accidents on the bypass that can involve higher speeds and end with serious damage due to how fast drivers have traveled previously in the area.

Foster said he’s noticed the difference in his daily commute to Cedartown Middle School.

“I love to see that play out,” he said. “In my mind it works because I’m there in the immediate. But then I’m also wondering if that’s just me in this moment. So when I see the stats play out that people are slowing down and its not just me in that particular time.”

Commissioners will still have to vote on the proposed purchases, but didn’t comment in any way that would provide reason to deny the requests when they come before the Commission during the May 8 regular session.

The city won’t be out of money anytime soon from the RedSpeed camera system fines. After all is paid out from the latest requests, around $126,000 will be leftover for use for Public Safety purchases.

Newsome made a point to say that “It’s important for me that people know that even though these price tags seem high, these are the best value that I can get us to do what we need to do and honor the people’s money.”

“I respect the fact that when I’m spending money like this, when I sign a purchase order, that ain’t Jamie’s money,” Newsome said. “I know that is something we are all passionate about, and this board is exceptionally passionate about it. But I buy into that philosophy. That ain’t my money I’m spending.”

Due to state law, the city can only use fine money collected from the speed cameras in front of the schools for public safety items.