Atlantic Police Chief Steve Green presented an annual review of his department to the City Council during their meeting, Wednesday evening. Green discussed some of his departments needs when it comes to nailing down the specifics on his budget. Among the funds he’s expecting to request at budget time, is $10,000 to equip his officers with body cameras, and $12,000 to replace their aging stun guns, commonly referred to by their trade name, “Taser’s.”

Green says Taser is ending its support for older models of the company’s stun guns, which are only warranted for 5-years. Atlantic’s Tasers, which were purchased by the Cass County Attorney’s Office through the use of drug money received by the County, are eight-years old.

As for equipping his officers with body cameras, Green says they’ve already had three in use over the past year on a test basis, and while his staff are generally in favor of the devices, there are many legal hurdles – especially invasion of privacy — that need to be taken into consideration. The issues were brought up by attorneys, at a recent Police Chief’s convention. In addition to Invasion of Privacy, the angle of perspective, making sure the cameras are turned-on and that audio recorder is activated, are all issues that are in the court and will likely be for years, according to Green.

The cameras themselves typically run $400-to $800 a piece, or about $10,000 for a dozen of them for the first year. Additional expenses can include a download docking station, $12,000 for a server, $22,000 for five-years of software support, plus a license for “redaction.” That’s the blurring of faces of the persons not involved in an incident or crime. When the media requests video of an incident under the Freedom of Information Act, the process to redact images takes hours to accomplish because there are thousands of frames of video in a 10-minute recording.

Green says he thinks they can save on costs by using the department’s existing server to handle the digital camera data downloads. He says he hasn’t decided yet which type or brand of camera the department will purchase. He said also “We don’t need them today, but we will need them within the next year or so.” Green also told the Council his department received 7,000 calls over the past year, his officers made 227 arrests that resulted in people being sent to jail, 398 people were charged, 327 traffic citations were issued, 109 written warnings, as well as numerous verbal warnings for traffic and other offenses.

Green said he was proud of the way his officers and reserve officers stepped-up and helped out with the department’s children’s programs over the past year, as well. He says $13,000 was spent on programs that benefit children, such as Shop with a Cop, Family Dreams Christmas, and more.

Green thanked the community for its support during fundraising efforts for those programs, and reminds you they will begin fundraising efforts for their annual programs again, next month.

Atlantic City Councilman Dana Halder says when it comes to budget time, more money should be made available for improvements to the Atlantic Public Library. Speaking at Wednesday evening’s City Council meeting, Halder, who is the Council’s liaison to the Library Board, said the Board had a meeting Oct. 12th, during which roof repairs and a 5-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) was discussed.

That brought up the topic of the Library’s budget. Halder said the Library’s 5-year CIP should really be a one-to three-year plan. He says looking back, there’s really been nothing done to the Library in over 20-years. Much of the money gifted to the Library has been placed into Trust and Agency. Those funds he says, have been used for new computers, and roof repair, but Halder says he doubts those who donate large sums of money want it to be used for a roof.

He said the Council will likely see a budget increase request coming from the Library when the Council considers the City’s budget for FY 2016-17, and he hopes they can find room for that increase. He said he feels the Library is “Very underfunded.”

He pointed to the fact it receives more than 650 visits each week, which amounts to 35,000 visits last year. Halder challenged the Council to come up with another City building “That has that much traffic.” On another note, Halder said the Friends of the Library will hold a book sale from 9:30-am to 6-p.m. Oct. 27th through the 29th.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A trial has been rescheduled to January for a woman accused of fatally stabbing a Council Bluffs man on July 4th, last year. The Daily Nonpareil reports that the trial of Jodie Sherman had been set for Tuesday but was rescheduled to begin Jan. 12. Sherman is accused of stabbing 52-year-old Douglas Richt in the throat during an argument after he picked her up in a car. She was arrested shortly after fleeing on foot.

Sherman’s mental competency to stand trial has been reviewed by psychiatric experts. Pottawattamie County Attorney Matthew Wilber told the Nonpareil that Sherman “is definitely competent to stand trial; the question for the jury is whether or not she was insane at the time of the stabbing.”

With the political season in full swing, Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones issued a reminder Wednesday to local candidates for office and their campaign supporters, as well as local groups and organizations, about the City’s Ordinance regarding placement of election and other signs. Jones said signs cannot be placed on City Right-of-Ways, such as the green space between sidewalks and the street. Signs can only be placed on the side of a sidewalk that faces toward a house, not the street. He said they’ve had to make calls telling people to remove signs that are not properly located.

Jones, who spoke during a meeting of the City Council, said some areas of town are becoming cluttered with the signs. It’s not only illegal, but unsightly, especially in the area of 10th and Linden Streets.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Sioux City woman has been given 25 years in prison for the death of her baby son and the neglect of two other children. Online court records say Rebekah Williams-McCarthy pleaded guilty on Tuesday to two counts of child endangerment and one of neglect of a dependent person.

The 2-month-old boy’s father, Michael Williams, last month was sentenced to 25 years on identical charges. Authorities have said little Leonard Williams was taken to an emergency room on April 29 last year. An autopsy later showed he died of malnutrition and dehydration.

Police in Creston say the Casey’s Store at 200 S. Elm Street was robbed at gun point early Wednesday morning. An employee at the store notified police of the robbery just after 6:30-a.m. An unknown male subject got away with an undetermined amount of cash. The incident remains under investigation.

Creston Police said also, three people were arrested on separate charges, Wednesday. 44-year old Mirsad Okanovic, of Urbandale, was arrested at around 11:40-p.m. for OWI/3rd or subsequent offense, and Driving While Barred. Okanovic was being held in the Union County Jail while awaiting a bond hearing.

A little after 6:45-p.m., Wednesday, Creston Police arrested 22-year old Hayley Vandel, of Creston, on a Union County warrant for Failure to Appear in Court. She was being held in the Ringgold County Jail on $2,000 bond. And, at around 1:45-a.m. Wednesday, police in Creston arrested 37-year old Jerry Dillinger, of Thayer, on a Federal warrant for being a Felon in Possession of Ammunition. Dillinger was being held in the Union County Jail without bond, while awaiting extradition.