INDIANAPOLIS–The state’s largest city will soon have body cams for police officers. Those body cams are just a pilot program, though, to see which ones are the best and just how much the cams and the data storage and analysis could cost the city.
“The most important difference with this body camera pilot is that, for the first time, the community will take part in the assessment,” said Mayor Joe Hogsett. “In this way, we can build the trust, the transparency, and the tools to implement a quality body camera program.”
The program will launch in a couple of months. That means police will start wearing body cams made by different companies, kind of a price and quality comparison.
They also want to know what the people of Indianapolis think about the cams, how they should be used and what people want out of it.
“A comprehensive pilot of body worn cameras will give our community a unique opportunity to make a collective decision around what other cities have seen as a solution that helps build trust and legitimacy,” said Chief Bryan Roach.
You may see a web-based survey that asks for your opinions as part of research for the program.
IMPD anticipates full deployment of a body worn camera program may cost between $2 to 3 million per year, including the lease of the equipment, cloud storage of audio and video data, maintenance, as well as the staffing and software to export and redact video.
From a news release from the mayor’s office:
Some suggested benefits of a body worn camera program for large police departments across the country include: increasing transparency with the community, reducing complaints against police, and improving officer training. The equipment can serve as an added tool for both officers and residents, aiding in the accurate documentation of events, actions, conditions, and statements made during interactions between police and the community. The captured audio and video can assist in the prosecution of offenders as well as the investigation of citizen complaints.
PHOTO: Evansville PD
