Staff Writer
Charlotte
police officers will be expected to wear body cameras while on the job in the
near future. More and more police agencies are using body cameras in light of
repeated public complaints against officers. The American Civil Liberties
Union, local civil rights activists, and police unions are all advocating the
use of the cameras in the police workforce. Due to the urging of the public and
continued reports of unnecessary use of force, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg police
will record police activities when approaching a subject. The seven million
dollar purchase is expected to be fully integrated among officers by October
2015.
The small
lightweight camera is a cylindrically shaped and fits around the head on either
a headset or glasses. The camera is either activated automatically or manually.
An officer can turn on the camera when they suspect an altercation may take
place, or a specific act will trigger it. They are required to start recording
when stopping in traffic, when frisking a member of the public, when use of
force is implemented, or during the search of property or people. When the
officer switches on the flashing lights in the control car, or activates a
Taser, the camera will automatically switch on. It’s built to capture images,
but doesn’t keep them stored until activated. Once the physical action of
recording has transpired, the camera will begin recording what is taking place
as well as keeping the images it captured in the previous 30 seconds.
Three
implementation phases are planned over the course of several months. Phase one
will include installing the cameras and docking stations in at least 15
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Divisions. Phase two activates automatic recording in
police patrol cars and on Tasers. Phase three allows for transfer of recordings
to storage areas using the Digital Evidence Management System. Training for
camera use could begin in early March, if everything goes according to
schedule. "I feel that the time is here where
we need to continue to capitalize on our community investment, and look to move
forward in this area," said Rodney Monroe, chief of the
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.
Charlotte
intends to withdraw money from the capital reserve as well as using the
$250,000 the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Foundation has donated.
Any additional costs will be funded through the department’s operating budget
and future fundraisers.
