Dolton Police Chief Wants To Implement Body Cameras By Next Summer
(CBS) -- A south suburban police department hopes to have its officers wearing body-cams by early next summer.
Dolton Police Chief John Franklin says a squad car dashboard camera was videoing when one of his officers recently became involved in shootout with a man with a gun. He says the video backed up everything the officer said had taken place.
Chief Franklin believes police body cameras could do the same and cut down the number of complaints and, what he calls, "frivolous" lawsuits against police.
"You have a lot of people demanding video proof….that someone took a step in the wrong direction... that's the way our society is moving…and we have to move with it," Chief Franklin says.
Chief Franklin says he has 37 officers on-the-street and would need about 42 cameras in order to have back-ups.
He's not sure of the cost for the 42 cameras he'd need but, he says, if the village of Dolton doesn't have the money, he'll seek grants or ask the business community to donate to the cause.
Chief Franklin thinks the cameras will "keep everybody honest", including police officers who may act unprofessionally or illegally.
He says supervisors could use the video to correct officers who don't act properly.
Chief Franklin began seriously considering cop cams after watching the drama in Ferguson, Missouri this summer when a white police officer shot to death an unarmed black teenager.