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CALDWELL, Idaho (AP) — The Caldwell Police Department plans to purchase 50 cameras for officers to wear while they are on duty.
The Idaho Press-Tribune reports (http://bit.ly/1IRrEmb ) Caldwell Police Chief Chris Allgood said the cameras will cost more than $80,000, including the cost of storage, software and salary for the person who will edit the video.
"The officers love them and by far, the vast majority of complaints (from residents) can be resolved by the video," Allgood said. "(Officers) want that and see it as a level of security because sometimes they are pretty serious complaints."
Allgood added that the department already redacts personal information about victims and witnesses from police reports, so he expects no challenge to do the same with the body cameras.
Outfitting police officers with body cameras has become a popular move by police departments across the country after recent scrutiny has increased over police tactics. Last year's unrest in Ferguson, Missouri, over a white officer fatally shooting an unarmed black 18-year-old helped trigger the demand for cameras.
For Caldwell, a grant will cover about $24,000 of the camera costs. Some funding for the cameras has already been approved, but the department still needs more. It is asking the City Council for less than $10,000.
Allgood said the cameras will be worn by patrol officers, traffic officers, detectives and school resource officers.
The Nampa Police Department has been using body cameras since 2010. Sgt. Joe Ramirez said they've had a positive effect on the department.
About 95 percent of the department's patrol officers wear the cameras, with another 20 cameras expected to arrive soon.
"The cameras, by all means, have been nothing but positive. Many more complaints are withdrawn when we let the complainant know about the video," said Ramirez, who also handles professional standards for the department. "I'm amazed at how many say 'I didn't know that.'"
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Information from: Idaho Press-Tribune, http://www.idahopress.com
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