BATH — Bath police and fire departments will get new high-tech thermal imaging cameras thanks, to a donation from the Bath Rotary Club.
“We all at the Bath Police Department and at the fire department … thank the Rotary for this very generous gift and very useful tool for us,” said Police Chief Michael Field at the Bath City Council meeting Wednesday night.
The Bath Rotary Club approached the departments earlier this year and offered to make them the beneficiaries of the club’s annual golf tournament. The departments were each able to choose how they would spend the money raised with the club’s approval.
“On behalf of my other 48 Rotarians, it is an honor to be able to give something like this to the city,” said Club President Bob Warren. “Of course, no one here or at home watching hopes we ever have to use it, but if it saves one person, the golf tournament this year was worth it.”
The club raised just over $21,000 through the tournament — twice as much as last year.
“To be able to turn around and give just under $7,000 to 8,000 to the city of Bath for life saving equipment is what we’re all about — service above self,” said Warren.
The Bath Police Department will purchase a NOPTIC night-vision camera to mount on one of its patrol vehicles. The equipment will cost $3,700.
“It is an excellent tool for searching for suspects, lost people, any objects or anyone after dark,” explained Field.
The Bath Fire Department will be purchasing a pair of FLIR K-2 Thermal Imaging Cameras. The cameras can be carried by firefighters and help them locate victims or fires. Together, the two cameras for the fire department will cost $3,484.
The gifts were officially accepted by the Bath City Council on Wednesday. Field said that with the council’s approval, the departments would move forward with purchasing the equipment, which should be available for them to use in the next couple of months
“The Rotary club is amazing,” said City Council Chairwoman Mari Eosco. “These are local people doing what they can for their community — for our community. It’s heartwarming.”
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