The number of law enforcement departments across the country with access to body cameras could soon increase substantially thanks to grant money from the U.S. Department of Justice.
The Department has planned to give $20 million to departments specifically for body cameras as part of a program unveiled by the Obama Administration last year. The goal of the program is to collect data on how well the cameras improve law enforcement’s interactions with the public.
Demand for the technology has been high after recent shootings involving police officers across the country.
However, some departments aren’t embracing the technology. The Greenbrier Police Department recently purchased 12 body cameras for officers with grant money. Chief K.D. Smith said 10 malfunctioned in about a month, and the department quickly learned the cost of storing the data from the cameras was very expensive.
“It was a big learning experience for us,” said K.D. Smith, Chief of the Greenbrier Police Department. “Take the time to make the phone calls and do the research. Don’t jump on the first camera that says it is top of the line equipment.”
Chief Smith said the department has since given up on the cameras, but he still believed the cameras offer some benefits.
“It is an extra set of eyes out there,” said Smith. “It’s saved a lot of officers with questions about what happened. It’s convicted officers who stepped over the line.”
The President of the Nashville Chapter of the NAACP encouraged area departments to take advantage of grant money from the Department of Justice.
“Arming officers with body cameras should be a priority,” said Ludye Wallace. “I think any equipment that would make our police officers safe, we need it.”
Wallace said he would also like to see additional training for officers, and video from the body cams released in a timely manner.
“We want everything to be clear,” said Wallace. “We want police to do their job. Body cameras would reveal the circumstances.”
It was still unclear which departments would receive grant money, and how much. Each department would have to apply for the money.
