New London police to outfit officers with body cameras this month
New London — Police officers here will join a growing list of departments in the region equipped with body cameras later this month.
Capt. Brian Wright said he expects the cameras will provide a level of transparency and accountability long sought by the community.
He said he expects there will be a learning curve for officers but once they become accustomed to the new technology, he said, the department will benefit in areas ranging from documentation of an investigation to community relations.
Other police departments that have equipped their officers with body cameras include Norwich, Groton Town, Groton City and Mashantucket.
Every officer will wear a camera and most interactions with the public, with a few exceptions, will be recorded. Exceptions include interactions such as an interview with a sexual assault victim. Officers must manually activate the cameras, which are purchased through Axon Enterprise Inc. But the cameras also have a feature that automatically activates them when others are in close proximity, when lights on a cruiser are activated or when an officer draws a gun.
One of the benefits of cameras is that police say complaints against officers are typically more easily resolved by viewing camera footage — something that in some cases can eliminate “he said, she said” arguments and frivolous lawsuits.
The idea of cameras at the department dates back to the administration of former Mayor Daryl Justin Finizio. But it was not an inexpensive endeavor.
At the recommendation of Police Chief Peter Reichard, the City Council earlier this year authorized a $1.2 million, five-year contract with Axon that covers not only cameras, but Tasers, police vehicle cameras and cloud storage for the video footage. The city additionally added a full-time information technology position to cope with management of the system. Wright said that in addition to storage of footage, the department must organize the videos for use in criminal cases and to adhere to state Freedom of Information Act laws.
NAACP President Jean Jordan has followed the progress of the body camera program at the department since 2016, when Finizio declared every officer should have one. Jordan said the cameras will serve to keep police and citizens alike accountable for their actions.
“If there is a complaint, you will be able to see whether there is merit to it or not,” she said. “It makes everyone more accountable for their actions.”
An exact date for the rollout of the cameras has not yet been determined.
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