EVANS CITY — Evans City-Seven Fields Regional Police Administrator Tom Smith presented financial and performance data at Monday’s meeting of Evans City council. Smith discussed the department’s plans to buy three body cameras.

With three officers on duty at all times, the department plans to buy three cameras for $4,800.

“The police commission, Chief McCombs and I felt strongly about this,” he said.

Police Chief Joe McCombs said the cameras will help officers record what happens in situations that can be difficult to definitively reconstruct.

“It’s a trend today,” he said. “Just to cover what really occurs in high-end situations.”

Smith added that in the age of smart phone cameras and social media, it helps to have the officer’s perspective.

Smith promoted the cost-saving effects of the regional police force, as opposed to having Evans City provide police coverage alone. It allows Evans City and Seven Fields to pool resources to make the police force the best it can be.

“Overall, I think the purchase of technology, the fleet management ... having a field training officer, which assures we’re getting pro officers, has been really beneficial,” Smith said. “I definitely give kudos to Chief McCombs and the ranking officers.”

Councilwoman Shelly Natali and Mayor Dean Zinkhann questioned Smith about retention of officers.

Natali said too many officers were leaving the department without being given exit interviews and asked if everything is being done to ensure officers want to stay at the department.

“Is the entire commission looking into why are these officers looking to leave?” she asked.

Smith said while exit interviews are sometimes conducted when an officer leaves, they are not required and that most departments do not conduct them. Changes to that policy would have to come from the police commission and he recommended council members raise the issue at the next commissioners meeting.

Additionally, officers who are not employed full time often leave for full-time opportunities with other departments if the situation arises, he said.

“We try our best to get officers (hours),” he said. “We do realize that (some officers) will at some point look for a full-time job with benefits.”

Zinkhann said that he wanted to attend exit interviews and that when he’s asked Smith to do so he’s been denied.

Smith said he did not believe it would be appropriate for the mayor to attend exit interviews but that if Zinkhann wanted, he would have to get the other police commissioners on board.

Following these exchanges, Smith invited anyone with questions or concerns to reach out to the board of commissioners or to attend their monthly meetings.