East Dundee police officers to wear body cameras

All East Dundee police officers are expected to be equipped with body cameras within the next year, Chief Terry Mee said.

The police department's five-year agreement with Arizona-based TASER International includes the purchase of 20 cameras, as well as video storage and management services. The village budgeted $21,160 in 2016-17 for first-year expenses, Mee said, and the program will cost $18,660 per year for the remainder of the deal.

"I think it's a state-of-the-art need for our profession," he said.

The police department's 13 full-time and six part-time officers will undergo training and begin using the cameras during the next fiscal year, which begins May 1. The village is expected to receive the devices this week.

Police officials researched several companies and models before settling on TASER International, Mee said. The village board OK'd his recommendation during budget discussions more than a year ago.

Outfitting officers with body cameras, which is becoming a common trend among police departments, would provide East Dundee police with additional information that could support criminal prosecutions or assist with training efforts, Mee said.

"We also believe the body-worn cameras will hopefully serve to promote community relations and contribute to officer safety," he said. "At the same time, it should in many cases record our actions and response to various types of police service."

Implementing the body camera program could also pose some challenges - and hidden costs - for the police department, Mee said. Additional man hours will likely be necessary for responding to Freedom of Information, subpoenaed and other such requests for video footage, he said, noting that the department has yet to identify other related tasks that could add to officers' workloads.

"There are some significant challenges ahead," he said.