AUGUSTA QUALIFIED FOR NIGHT VISION EQUIPMENT

Are you ready for some nocturnal surveillance?

The City of Augusta is expecting to receive some night vision equipment
this spring.

Last year, the safety department submitted an application to the U.S. Army
for this equipment through the Counter Drug Transfer Program. That
application was successful.

Now, the city must send someone to a training school prior to receiving the
equipment.

Last week, one member of the Augusta City Council had a concern about who
would be sent to the one-day training in Florida at the end of March - a
prerequisite for receiving the equipment.

It was reported that director of safety David Pate would be the city's
representative at this training in late March.

City manager Bill Keefer said the night vision equipment would be used as
an investigative tool for the safety department by detectives and work with
other departments on drug-related matters.

Councilman Charles Hanna felt Pate's attendance at the school might send an
unwanted message through the ranks of the safety department. He said the
view from the bottom is that "when you have an interesting school in an
interesting spot, then brass will fill the spot." He suggested such
training would better benefit the officers in the field rather than the
department administrator.

Chief Pate reports he plans to attend the one-day school and will share the
training information with the local officers when he returns and the
equipment is received.