Columbus Division of Police Deploy First Body Worn Cameras
[COLUMBUS,
OH] - Mayor Andrew J. Ginther, Columbus City Council and the Columbus
Division of Police announced the first body worn cameras were deployed last evening,
Wednesday, December 28, on 12 traffic officers. This initial phase of deployment comes after a months-long
development of policies and procedures, as well as the evaluation and selection
of a vendor.
“Body
worn cameras are an important tool to improve police-community relations, and I
am confident that they will increase transparency and accountability for both
the community and police. In fact, camera footage will not be limited solely to
the courtroom but will also be largely available to the public through open
records laws,” said Columbus City Council President Zach Klein.
A
body worn camera committee composed of members of the community, academia, the
Fraternal Order of Police and support staff from the Department of Safety was
formed in September 2015. They studied research, engaged in public meetings and
took testimony from body worn camera experts.
The
committee issued a report in June 2016 which provided recommendations for
policies, procedures and necessary changes in state law to implement a body
worn camera program in Columbus.
“Research
shows body worn cameras are an important tool to enhance public safety and
promote more positive interactions between the police and the community,” said
Mayor Ginther. “I have said before that I wanted to do more than get it done; I
wanted to get it right. I stand here confident we have accomplished that.”
At
the same time as the committee developed policies, the City’s procurement
experts led an intense vendor selection process. Six models from five different
vendors were given to 30 officers for a test program beginning on August 30,
2016. Their input informed the city’s decision to select a vendor and enter
into a contract with WatchGuard, a leader in the manufacturer of law
enforcement video systems.
The
City also worked with the Fraternal Order of Police to plan for implementation
and assure new policies did not conflict with the Collective Bargaining
agreement.
“The
Columbus Division of Police is committed to being a progressive, trustworthy,
and community-minded organization,” said Chief of Police Kim Jacobs. “Recording
most of our daily interactions with community members is an excellent method to
prove that commitment and to show the outstanding service and dedication of our
law enforcement personnel.”
Phase
I of the implementation includes the remainder of the Traffic Unit which is
expected to be outfitted by the end of January 2017. Phase II, which consists
of the Bicycle Unit, will begin once the installation of fiber optic
communication infrastructure is completed at police substations, expected to be
complete by the end of May 2017.
“I
am confident the technology and training we have provided our officers will
help keep Columbus neighborhoods, and our officers, safe,” said Public Safety
Director Ned Pettus, Jr. “While minor glitches might be expected even after all
of our planning, vetting and testing, we have a thoughtful and deliberate
implementation plan that will allow the Division to effectively deploy body
worn cameras, make adjustments and continuously improve training as we place
additional cameras in service.”
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