By Annie Rowe

SDN Staff Writer

Maintaining a safe and protected homeland has become a priority for many counties throughout Texas <\!m> and Scurry County is no exception.

Ray Dunn, a representative of Guardian Security Systems presented a high-tech tour of the latest in courthouse and law enforcement security devices to county commissioners court meeting this morning.

“With the latest cameras and digital video, maintaining security in an area has been improved over the old systems,” said Dunn. “The new systems allow for the sheriff, for example, to have the capacity to check a camera remotely, no matter where he may be.”

Dunn went on to demonstrate how any of the Guardian cameras could be accessed by a P.D.A., “palm pilot” from a remote location.

The new digital video recorder can utilize the installation of up to 16 cameras to provide surveillance of an area.

The courthouse and jail in Fisher County have been using the system for about a year with very positive results.

Dunn said there is no maintenance cost for the system and no cost for upgrades on software.

Judge Rod Waller questioned the usefulness of the system for two-way conferencing between the judge and the sheriff’s department, asking how easily the system could be installed.

“That could be easily done and, I would think, it would cut down on costs,” said Dunn.

Sheriff Darren Jackson agreed. “It really would save time because we currently have to drive over here, or we have to transport a prisoner over here for court. The arraignment process could be shortened tremendously if the prisoner could be arraigned from the jail.”

The Law Enforcement Center currently has 16 black and white cameras. The jail is basically monitored through a series of short pictures made by each of the cameras. Dunn explained that since the new system provides a digital feed, there is very little movement lost by the camera.

Dunn planned to inspect the courthouse and the jail in order to determine what would be necessary to implement the new system and provide a cost estimate.

In other business the court voted unanimously to designate April as Child Abuse Awareness month and recognize the week of March 14-20 as National Agriculture Week.

There were no line-item transfers, but a budget amendment for Precinct 1 constable for $178 for funds that were not budgeted in 2004 to renew the constable’s bond was approved.

Also, a budget amendment for Precinct 4 in the amount of $6,000 for costs to locate the depth of utility lines in the ditches along State Hwy. 644 in preparation for future construction.

The court also was to have heard a presentation of computerized voting equipment, but the company representatives failed to appear this morning.