(12/25) At the December City Council meeting, the topic of cameras in the police department sparked a heated discussion regarding liability among Council members. According to Town Attorney Jay Gullo, the City’s IT specialist was updating the City’s cameras with new technology and questions arose asking where the cameras should be placed and who is responsible in determining that location: the Council, the Chief of Police or the IT specialist.
The cameras in question were originally installed by the previous Chief Etzler who worked for the Taneytown Police Department for 20 years. He became Chief of Police in 2019 after former Police Chief, William Tyler, was placed on leave after he and another officer took two machine guns from the evidence room and were using them for their own purposes. At the time, there were no cameras in the armory or evidence room, however the doors were covered. Etzler was replaced by Chief Adrian Baker in 2023.
During the recent upgrade, the positions of the cameras were supposed to be replaced ‘one-for-one,’ however two additional 360-degree cameras were placed directly on employee workspaces and over the Administrative Assistant's desk. This greatly concerned Chief Baker, who has been in law enforcement for almost 40 years, "I have had multiple complaints from the officers," he said. "I run this department but also have to manage morale."
Gullo pointed out that the City’s Code states that the placement of the cameras is up to the City Manager, Jim Wieprecht, and when Baker asked Wieprecht why the cameras were being installed in this manner, he was directed to discuss it with the IT specialist. "I am responsible for this department," said Baker. "It’s nonsense that we’re even talking about this. Just let me do my job."
After talking with Sykesville and Manchester’s Police Chiefs, as well as the Carroll County Sheriff's Office, about their camera placements, Baker said they placed theirs in a similar fashion as Baker wished; all the doors are covered, the evidence room and armory but no personal spaces.
Mayor Christopher Miller also questioned why the Council needed to be involved in the arrangement of the cameras when it is Baker’s department. He pointed out that the current position of cameras is not the same as it was during Etzler's time, it is better, as now the evidence room was covered.
Councilwoman Judith Fuller said she wanted to "have as much coverage as possible especially in areas where you’re dealing with cash being exchanged." She said entrances and where you are dealing with the public are extremely important for purposes of protection. After discussing it with the City’s Treasurer, Wieprecht said it would be a good idea to have cameras on cash drawers and it is something they are working on.
Gullo reiterated that the purpose of the discussion was to decide if there was a liability at hand or not. He said that, by enacting a policy, they would be protecting all of the employees because it is not their decision but rather the Council’s on the general placement of cameras; points of ingress, egress, common areas, cash drawer, armory and evidence could be examples.
Wieprecht clarified that he would like to come to an agreeable resolution that affords the City the protections that the Council wants to see and allows the Chief the ability to have input on what is best for his department. "I would appreciate the opportunity to work it out with the Chief and with IT to make sure we are using the technology the best way that we can."
