Body cameras have become an increasingly popular tool in law enforcement because they provide an extra layer of protection for both officers and the community.
While some Fort Wayne Police Department squad cars are already equipped with dash cams, Chief Steve Reed hopes that he's able to equip his officers with body cameras to complement them.
One significant part of the mayo oving forward togethe?plan is equipping officers with body cameras.fox 55's caleb saylor joins us live with more on that.caleb?
Fort wayne city leaders have been discussing body cameras for years but the recent protests have brought a sense of urgency to making that discussion a reality.
Body cameras have become an increasingly popular tool in law enforcement because they provide an extra layer of protection for both officers and the community.
While some fort wayne police squad cars are already equipped with dash cams, chief steve reed says that they e been talking for years to get body cameras to complement them.
Ver the years we talked about them.
Whether it's been cost or storage, we haven implemented across-the-board.
Last october i went to chicago to speak one-on-one with motorola.
They have a division called watchguard which is our in-car cameras, but they also have a body camera.
Department is hoping to equip 250 or more of their uniformed officers with body cameras.
An fwpd spokesperson says the final co been n determined because the department is still deciding on the model.
President of the fort wayne patrolmen's benevolent association, steven espinoza says body cameras will benefit everybody.
How beneficial do you believe body cameras would be to the department i think they would be beneficial for all of the for the public and for the officer.
All we ask, as the union, is to be included in the in the policymaking, so that we can discuss policies that are already in place throughout the us and we can take those policies and make them fit city of fort wayne.
Chief reed says the department is currently involved in a digital evidence project through motorola as well, but once done, body camera demos will start.
Ere in july we should start our own demo of body camera from watchguard and then move forward with finding a funding source, which council has assured me they would fund it, but e also looking for grant opportunities as well.
And while the last two city council meetings have discussed the use of body cameras moving forward, espinoza says the police union hasn been part of those talks yet.
E have not been approached by the city council.
We will do our due diligence and we will reach out to them but it starts with our administration just the getting them, which i don't think we'll be an issue, is to have a seat at the table to as you just heard from fort wayne police chief steve reed, 3 city council are looking into ways to fund the purchase of the body cameras, but as we reported on tuesday night, they are still six to eight weeks away from a vote.?
Reporting live in fort wayne, caleb saylor, fox 55 news
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