HENRICO COUNTY, Va. -- Starting in mid-March, Henrico Police will be working with some new equipment. The next time you see an officer, they'll be wearing more than just that uniform. Body cameras will become a valuable tool for officers responding to any situation.
“No officer will receive a camera unless he has had the fair and impartial policing,” said Henrico Police Chief Doug Middleton.
Middleton says officers will have the mini-devices mounted to shirt collars or attached to sunglasses.
“So, what we’re purporting to do here is to help change the perspective our community has of us, help our officers share more skills that help them interact with our community,” Middleton said.
Middleton added that the technology’s accuracy is designed to benefit both officers and citizens.
“If I had to choose between the camera and the training,” he said. “I would choose the training.
“Training impacts how we think. It impacts our behavior. The camera is already going to record what is taking place.”
Many believe body cameras could have made the difference in Ferguson and New York, where recent police shootings of unarmed black residents have sparked racially fueled protests.
Unlike dash cams -- the body camera sees and hears exactly what the officer does -- but only if it’s activated by the officer first. This is why Middleton says officers go through several hours of training to make sure all situations are caught on tape.
“The fair and impartial policing is about building trust,” Middleton explained. “The camera is about telling the community that we’re willing to be transparent as we go forward with that.”
Chief Middleton tells CBS 6, the body cams cost $800 a piece and were paid for with drug seizure money. He says other agencies with the devices have already seen a sharp drop in complaints and more cases cleared.
Both Richmond and Chesterfield are looking into the technology.
