City Council To Vote On Body Cameras For Anaheim Police
ANAHEIM (CBSLA.com) — Small video cameras could soon be mounted on the uniform of every police officer in Anaheim following a City Council vote set for Tuesday evening.
A $1.15 million proposal from Anaheim Police Chief Raul Quezada to purchase 250 video cameras comes after an 18-month testing period by the Department, according to officials.
Over the next five years, the proposed funds would include the acquisition of the TASER Axon body-worn cameras, digital evidence storage, and all related equipment, services, and upgrades, officials said.
Police Chief Quezada announced the selection of the technology at the recommendation of a 20-officer test group which tested 11 different body-worn camera options from various manufacturers.
"The implementation of this body worn camera technology will augment the voice recorders Anaheim Officers have been wearing for several years," Quezada said in a statement. "It will help us gather and preserve the best possible evidence and serve as another layer of transparency for the public we serve."
Anaheim Police Lt. Bob Dunn told KNX 1070 NEWSRADIO the Department's rank-and-file is also in full support of the plan.
"We feel that the community wants transparency, and we're happy in any way we can to try to provide that to them," said Dunn.
In addition to the cameras, the funding request would also add a full-time civilian investigator to manage the implementation, storage, and maintenance of the body-worn camera program, as well as respond to requests for discovery in court proceedings, Public Records Act requests, according to Quezada.
If approved, the Department could have the body-worn cameras operational by November.
