EVERETT, WA – In December, Everett Police will start a six-month pilot Body Worn Camera program.
The Everett Police Department will begin a pilot Body Worn Camera program in December. The pilot includes 10 body cameras and department expects to study the cameras for six (6) months to allow the police department to evaluate the benefits of the technology and better calculate the expenses associated with them. In addition to the benefits and cost of the technology, the pilot will consider whether additional staff may be needed to manage the program, review videos and redact information when there are public disclosure requests.
“The pilot program will give us a better sense of what type of funding would be necessary if the decision is made to move forward with a department-wide deployment at some point,” said Chief Dan Templeman. “Across the nation, police body-camera programs have been shown to improve public trust and transparency, increase civility during encounters between officers and community members, corroborate evidence, and provide training opportunities.”
Depending upon the outcome of the pilot, the department is considering outfitting all uniformed officers with cameras. In 2020, the City of Everett has budgeted $400,000 for the purchase and deployment of Body Worn Cameras. The police department intends to search for grants to help offset costs to the City. “While the cost of these cameras is high, we believe that the benefit of transparency and mitigation of injuries and liability make the expenses worth the investment,” said Chief Templeman.
The Chief’s Community Advisory Board, made up of a diverse group of community members that live or work in Everett, recently reviewed this project and were given an opportunity to provide feedback. All members present supported the use of body worn cameras and endorsed moving forward with the pilot program.
News Releases are located at: www.everettwa.gov/EPDNews.
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