The city commission voted this week to approve the purchase of 65 cameras at a cost of around $105,000 from Taser International.
Over the past several months, the city says the police department has been testing and reviewing body-worn cameras to answer questions about camera durability, capabilities, and lifespan, and technology concerns such as file storage, retrieval, and retention. The department also has been looking at policies regarding when and where the cameras would be used.
Police chief Brandon Barnhill said, “It’s a simple idea to put a body camera on an officer, but it has very complex ramifications.”
Recent incidents regarding the use of force by police officers continue to attract national and international attention and have increased the local discussion regarding the cameras.
Barnhill said a body-worn camera can provide an officer’s point of view, provide defense against false claims, and protect the reputation of the professional officers. He acknowledges there are concerns including the possibility of a decrease in the willingness of citizens to talk to police if they are worried about being recorded.
Barnhill said, “Relationships are key to the success in any community and in policing.”
Barnhill also provided some statistics about the Paducah Police Department. He says only 1 percent of arrests in Paducah involve force. In 2014, the Department had 2516 arrests with 26 resulting in a use of force beyond routine handcuffing.
The purchase is being made from Taser International, the sole company providing cloud storage for the data.
