Lake Orion is going to Hollywood.
The Village Council agreed with a recommendation of Police Chief Jerry Narsh and could soon offer some videos from patrol car cameras to the television program, ‘Disorderly Conduct: Video on Patrol.?
The council unanimously authorized participation in the program at their April 9 meeting.
‘Our tapes roll all the time, they have been for over 10 years,? Narsh said.
Any tapes provided to the program will be of closed cases, according to Narsh and Lolly Arpaci, one of the show’s producers.
‘These are cases that would already have been in the newspapers,? Narsh said.
He and Arpaci attended the meeting last week to answer questions from the council.
‘We’re not trying to embarrass the people of Lake Orion,? she promised. ‘We want to work with you, not against you.?
The program, which is part of Cheri Sundae Productions and currently airs on Spike TV, is looking for material for its second season.
‘This is a pro-police program,? Arpaci said, noting many departments use the position on the program as publicity.
‘We take pride in showing the law in the best possible light,? Arpaci added.
The council authorized Narsh and Lieutenant Harold Rossman to review and offer videos to ‘Disorderly Conduct,? at a cost of $75 each.
An additional $250 will be paid if the video is used on the program.
Arpaci said she would also be willing to review tapes for the department if it would save them time.
Narsh said producers of the program have promised that they will blur out faces and other identifying characteristics of individuals being depicted before showing the video on the program.
‘There have not been any lawsuits against our show,? Arpaci noted, citing a letter from the production company’s lawyer.
‘I can assure you that the pixilation process guards against any possible claims by any perpetrators, suspects and/or criminals depicted on footage provided by your department,? the letter from Adam Bram read.
Village Attorney Gary Dovre agreed with the assessment of Bram that there would be no liability on the part of the village.