PORTSMOUTH — Starting Saturday, Sept. 1, officers with the Portsmouth Police Department will be wearing body cameras while out on patrol for a 30-day trial period.
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PORTSMOUTH — Starting Saturday, Sept. 1, officers with the Portsmouth Police Department will be wearing body cameras while out on patrol for a 30-day trial period.
The high-definition, wireless body cameras attach to the shirt pocket of an officer’s uniform and will record video and audio of officers’ interactions with the public. A limited number of them have been issued to officers.
The officers using the body cameras have received extensive training and will be informing people that they are being recorded, Detective Lt. Michael C. Arnold stated in a press release.
“If a member of the public the officer is interacting with declines to be recorded, the officer will use his or her judgment on whether to continue use of the camera, depending on the situation and evidentiary nature. Interactions with witnesses who request anonymity or confidentiality will not be recorded,” Lt. Arnold stated.
The recorded content on the cameras will be downloaded after an officer’s shift, with the data stored and time-stamped on a secure server, he said.
“The use of body cameras are trending throughout the law enforcement community and have been found to be useful in capturing spontaneous utterances, evidence and situations that could not be otherwise depicted,” Lt. Arnold stated. “The goal of the implementation of the body cameras by the Portsmouth Police Department is to enhance community relations by building trust and forging transparency.”
You can read the full body camera policy at PortsmouthRI.com.