New London — The New London Police Department moved one step closer to being the first in the region to put body cameras into use Thursday afternoon as Mayor Daryl Justin Finizio signed Ordinance 10-19-15-3.

Included in the $625,000 in bonded money appropriated by the ordinance is $385,000 that's going to the fire department for gear — including self-contained breathing apparatus — and about $220,000 that will be given to police for body cameras, additional computer storage, ballistic vests and protective head gear.

In addition to the several city, police and fire officials present as Finizio signed the ordinance, Jean Jordan, president of the New London Chapter of the NAACP, and Tamara K. Lanier, criminal justice chairwoman with the Connecticut NAACP, were in attendance.

According to a news release, Fire Chief Henry Kydd, Deputy Police Chief Peter Reichard and the two NAACP representatives spoke "favorably about the future impact of the ordinance on city residents."

When members of the City Council voted 6-1 to approve borrowing the $625,000 on Tuesday, Finizio said body cameras can "protect good officers against false accusations" while also ensuring that the civil rights of residents and visitors are protected.

"This is something I've been pushing for a very long time," Finizio said at the time.