It's said a person doesn't look a gift horse in the mouth. But apparently not everyone believes that, especially in Lawrenceburg.

Video: Word On The Street (1/23/08)

Earlier this month, Lawrenceburg Police Chief Terry Shay requested permission to purchase four in-car cameras, which cost $19,000.

The cameras, Shay said, were needed to update those now being used in its police cars.

The chief told the city board of mayor and commissioners that the cameras would be paid for by a federal justice department grant and would not cost the city a single penny.

What a sweetheart deal.

The only problem is that the chief told the commissioners that if the money is not spent, it goes back to the feds.

With that, Lawrenceburg Mayor Keith Durham made a motion to approve the purchase of the cameras.

To the surprise of the mayor and police chief, none of the commissioners would second the motion.

Two of the commissioners said they wanted additional time to study the request as to how it might affect the city budget.

How could a free gift affect the city's budget? So, how do you explain it? It's called politics.

Some believe it’s aimed at the police department in general and Shay in particular.

The board meets again Thursday. The four city commissioners are expected to have a change of mind.