Connecticut State Police are issuing body cameras to tactical response teams, becoming among the first in the nation to do so.
Brian Foley of the Connecticut State Police said Sunday on FOX61's First and Finest segment that the policy of using cameras was another step to transparency, the goal of Jams Rovella, Commissioner of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.
"If you look nationally, there have been some incidents that have happened even locally where SWAT teams have been forced to use deadly force, and there was no video of it. And when you look at it, when you have 20 officers with assault rifles, with armor, with armored vehicles, supervisors, command staff, everyone responding to a scene that is a critical incident with high risk and not one person with a body camera on? That's unacceptable," said Foley.
The cameras are mounted on helmets, have stabilizers and are easy to operate with gloves by the officers. One of the arguments in the past has been that the body cams have restricted movement.
State Police are among the first in the nation to issue the cameras according to Foley.
He called it a great advancement in transparency.
The cameras are mounted on helmets, have stabilizers and are easy to operate with gloves by the officers. One of the arguments in the past has been that the body cams have restricted movement.
"Some of the arguments against body cameras for your tactical response teams is that the chest-mounted body cameras are intrusive to their movements. Some of the arguments have been that the body cameras will capture certain tactical plans or movements that could risk their safety. Look, in the year 2021 you can go to YouTube and get as much information about police tactics as you can imagine," said Foley.
The cameras will be used on all call-outs and the footage is subject to the Freedom of Information Act.