Portage chief: Too many unanswered questions on body cameras
December 05, 2015 - 4:30 pm
Joyce Russell
NWI Times
nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/portage-chief-too-many-unanswered-questions-on-body-cameras/article_536eb79a-9708-5ecd-a71f-58f65a2aa7be.html
PORTAGE | Portage Police Chief Troy Williams said this week he hasn't ruled out the use of body cameras for his department in the future.
But, he said, there are too many unanswered questions at present for the city to jump on the latest trend in law enforcement.
"It's not something you can rush into," said Williams, adding the issues run from privacy concerns to funding to equipment reliability.
The discussion of whether Portage should invest in body cameras for police officers arose at this week's City Council meeting. Councilman Matt Scheuer introduced an ordinance that would required the city to find funding and initiate a program by 2019.
Scheuer said he introduced the ordinance upon the request of constituents. He said he believed the use of body cameras could improve the relationship between police and the community, reduce frivolous lawsuits and and protect both officers and those with whom they interact.
Both Williams and the Fraternal Order of Police objected to the ordinance, which ultimately failed.
Williams and the FOP, in its letter, said they weren't objecting to the possible use of cameras, but to the process and not being included in the discussion.
"There is a distinct process to this thing. We need to have the conversation and, in the end, we may see it is something we want to do, we may not," Williams said.
Williams said he has been researching body cameras and the issues involved with using them on a police department.
One, he said, is privacy, an issue that is currently being studied by a state legislative committee.
"When do we turn them on and when do we turn them off? Are they on an entire shift? What if we respond to a call involving a medical issue? What about HIPAA (medical privacy) laws? What if a call involves a juvenile?" Williams said about what he feels are unanswered questions about the use of body cameras.
The bipartisan state legislative committee has been taking testimony on several of the issues, according to recent news reports. The goal is to introduce legislation covering several of the issues in January when the state Legislature convenes for its next session.
Williams said there is also the cost factor and, with limited funding, prioritizing what the department needs. There is also the issue of looking at potential federal grants to fund body cameras.
"In 2018, we need to narrow band (communication radios) again. Right now we can't talk to Lake County. That is something that needs to be addressed," said Williams, adding he believes it is more of a priority.
Hammond is the only city in the region that has initiated the use of body cameras for its officers. The cost there was about $158,000 for equipment, licensing and video storage.
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department spent months testing and assessing equipment during a pilot program this summer, but said they couldn't afford to outfit their department with the devices at an estimated cost of $2 million, according to an article in Police magazine.
Williams said there is also the issue of equipment reliability, pointing to dash cameras the department has used. He said they've used several brands, each time getting promises of reliability, but falling short of expectations.
He also disputes the claim that his department needs cameras at this point, saying in most recent lawsuits filed against the department, cameras wouldn't have made a difference.
"If someone is aware there is a camera, will it lessen their behavior? Maybe. Most complaints we get are that an officer has been rude," said Williams, adding in those situations the cameras could benefit the officer.
"We really have to weigh the pros and the cons and the expense," he said.
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