Jamestown police chief Harry Snellings goes over details of equipping JPD with body cameras Monday night during the city council’s June work session.
JAMESTOWN – The city of Jamestown is looking into the issue of getting body cameras for every member of its police department.
On Monday Jamestown Public Safety Director and police Chief Harry Snellings went over the details of equipping every member of the JPD with a body cameras. The presentation came after both the chief and Mayor Sam Teresi agreed that it was time to consider equipping officers with cameras, with the mayor asking the chief to research the issue and return with his finding.
“The chief and I started discussing deploying that technology here in Jamestown with our uniform and non-uniform officers as a tool that would benefit the officers out in the field and the public at-large,” Teresi said.
Snellings said given the advancement in technology the past couple years, getting body cameras for officers has become more feasible. He also said that the cameras are something he feels would be helpful to the police department.
“The body worn cameras are just an extension of our in-dash (car) cameras,” Snellings said. “The only thing now is that instead of being specifically in the vehicle and capturing just traffic stops, now there is a mobile camera that can record citizen-police encounters.”
The chief said that there are a number of benefits that come with having officers wear body cameras. They include increased transparency and legitimacy, improved officer conduct, improved citizen conduct, expedited resolution of complaints, improved evidence for arrest and prosecution, and opportunities for police training.
He said some of the concerns include privacy issues for both the officer and citizen, training and policy requirements and logistical and resource requirements.
Following the presentation, Teresi agreed with the chief that the cameras would be a helpful resource for the police department.
“This is not nifty flavor of the month toy,”Teresi said. “It is an important and serious potential technological resource and tool to equip or oficers with no different than any other equipment or technology that his been provided to them to help them do their jobs and serve the public.”
As for the cost, Snellings said it would cost the city $35,000 to purchase 48 cameras for each officer on the force, along with 6 docking stations. He said another $20,000 would be needed to pay for a data center to hold all the video information. Funding for the cameras could come from various sources, including both state and federal grants, as well as having the city cover a portion of the cost.
Teresi said that the city will be looking at funding options for the cameras, with more information and even possible action by the city council expected in the coming weeks and months.
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