At the July meeting of the Vidalia City Council Monday night, the Vidalia Police Department was granted the approval to invest in more safety equipment for the officers and the community. Council approved a five-year agreement for body cameras that will not only record interactions with citizens, but also be able to notify emergency services if an officer is down and other vital information to ensure their safety. The first year of the agreement, $51,411 will be paid out of the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) fund, and the remaining four years will be paid from line items figured into the Police Department's budget.

Council also approved $12,000 to purchase other lifesaving equipment for the officers that will give them other options in the line of duty. City Manager Nick Overstreet said that currently officers only posses a handgun and a taser, but the new equipment will give them other nonviolent options when trying to apprehend a suspect. This equipment will be paid from funds seized by the Vidalia Police Department.