Though they've had cameras in their cruisers for years and were one of the first departments in the state to use them, members of the Westport Police Department are now outfitted with body cameras as well.

The cameras, which mount to officer's uniforms and automatically turn on when they turn on their cruiser lights or have any interactions with the public, have been assigned to every officer in the 30-member department. They were paid for by a $50,000 grant federal grant awarded to the town last year. There was no local match required.

Deputy Chief John Bell said the cameras are being well-received by officers, based in large part on their experiences with cruiser cameras over the past several years. He said those cameras have helped protect officers in the past.

"We've had complaints come in and we'd bring people in to watch the camera" footage, he said. Generally, he said, the footage "didn't substantiate the complaint at all. People even apologized a couple of times."

Sgt. Robert Rebello applied for the grant and is currently in charge of the program. Deputy Chief Bell said Westport expected to receive the cameras months ago, but had to wait for supply issues from Motorola to clear up.

"The guys are really buying into them," he said.