In a few weeks, police officers in Indianapolis’ three most busy police districts — north, east and southeast — will wear body cameras during the busiest shifts. Both police officers and the community will be able to provide feedback to the body camera program. The results from this trial program will help city officials decide if and how the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) will implement body cameras. Mayor Joe Hogsett along with IMPD Chief Bryan Roach announced the trial during a press conference on Feb. 4.
While exact dates are not set at this point, the trial of body cameras should start in a few weeks and last about 60 days with only a certain number of officers wearing the equipment. The trial will help the city decide if it will provide cameras to all officers and the details of how it would do so. During the trial run, the city will test body cameras from different vendors to determine which best meets the needs of IMPD. The piloting program will come at no cost to the city.
“The question is not whether body cameras for police are a good tool, but rather how can this technology be implemented in a manner that meets both community and IMPD expectations while balancing effective policy, personal privacy concerns and budget constraints,” Jeremy Carter, director of Criminal Justice and Public Safety and associate professor in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at IUPUI, said.
The program will collect input from both police officers and the community. Citizens can comment on the body cameras through an online survey administered by IUPUI. Carter said those without regular internet access can fill out the survey at a library computer. In addition, a paper survey is also possible. Carter anticipated the link being live at by the end of the month.
In the press conference Hogsett expressed confidence in the new program. He said police and citizens in comparable cities experienced benefits from similar body cameras.
“They have been found in other jurisdictions to reduce complaints, to improve officer training, and frankly, make policing safer for everyone,” Hogsett said. “That’s what I call a win, win, win.”
IMPD attempted a smaller trial in 2014, but that initial trial did not convince the city to implement body cameras — even though Roach said officers were open to the idea. Cost constraints, poor infrastructure and a less-community centered approach were mentioned as reasons for the failed first attempt.
“We looked at it as if we were buying a new car,” Roach said.
Now Hogsett and Roach believe that this program will be different. The technology has advanced to the point where it would only cost $2 to $3 million per year to fully implement a body camera system. In addition, the survey gives the community a greater say in the program’s future.
Contact staff writer Ben Lashar at 317-762-7848. Follow him on Twitter @BenjaminLashar.
