CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Police Chief Brent Webster is the first to admit his department doesn’t have all of the answers when it comes to officers wearing body cameras but they have enough answers to be comfortable enough with starting a program.
Charleston City Council approved the purchase of the cameras at its Monday night meeting. They will be worn by the department’s patrol division and several special units.
The police department took several months studying the issue including finding the best cameras and how to store the information recorded each day, Webster said.
“We’ve learned from the mistakes of other departments who may have rushed out to buy them,” Webster said. “The storage issues are still something that have to be worked on. I have the feeling it’s going to be a very fluid process.”
The department has been in conversations with the ACLU and other groups when it comes to what information to store and for how long.
Webster hopes officers can begin wearing the cameras by early summer or before.
“It’s another piece of equipment that has to be taught and it’s something they (the officers) are going to have to get used to wearing,” he said. “I think for credibility and transparency, the officers are really going to enjoy these.”
The cameras are going to help residents and officers, Webster predicted.
“It’s going to give some evidence that is indisputable versus testimony on either side,” he said. “We see this as hard evidence that will help paint a picture of an event.”
The cameras are being paid for through grant money.