Council approves purchase of 100 body cameras for police officers
The Rochester City Council on Monday night approved the purchase of 100 body cameras for the police department.
The city's contract with TASER International, worth $86,996, also includes ancillary equipment and two years of video storage.
From The Atlantic: The Big Money in Police Body Cameras
The department still needs to adopt a policy for regulating the cameras before officers begin using them. The issue will be brought up when the newly-formed Police Oversight Commission holds its first meeting on June 29.
Two council members, Michael Wojcik and Mark Hickey, voted against the purchase. Wojcik wanted to give the oversight commission an opportunity to review the contract before the purchase was made.
Hickey suggested waiting for the Minnesota Legislature to adopt a statewide policy on the use of body cameras. The House and Senate were unable to reach an agreement on the technology during the previous session.
From The Washington Post: Five myths about body cameras
The Olmsted County Sheriff's Department is also interested in purchasing body cameras for its officers. Sheriff Kevin Torgerson is expected to make a formal request for 70 cameras this fall.
Here's what Torgerson said about the use of body cameras during an interview earlier this year with the Med City Beat:
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(Cover photo: TASER International)
