Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz and Police Chief Jim Johnson announced a plan to equip police officers with body cameras Thursday afternoon.
"We believe that body cameras on our police officers are going to improve public safety," Kamenetz stated during a press conference. "Body cameras are going to reduce complaints of officer misconduct."
He also said he believes body cameras will improve the prosecution for police misconduct cases. He said he believes body cameras will improve the relationship between police and the community.
"The technology is there," he said. "We're going to find the funding to make this happen."
The Baltimore County Police Department is expected to equip 1,435 officers with body cameras by 2017. The first 150 body-worn cameras are scheduled for deployment in July 2016. Police say they will be deployed equally throughout the 10 precincts to officers in a variety of assignments. The remainder is scheduled for deployment in July 2017.
The first five years of the program will cost $7.1 million.
Source WBAL
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