JACKSON Tenn – During Tuesday’s February Jackson City Council the council heard from NAACP members Dan Hoyt PAC chairman and Byron Elam, 3rd vice president of the Madison County chapter.
Each read statements in support of the progress being made in providing body cameras for Jackson police officers.
According to Hoyt, the recommendation to equip JPD officers with body cameras came after the group researched similar cities, compared crime rates, and in response to the incidents involving Michael Brown in Ferguson Missouri and Anthony Baez and Eric Garner in New York city.
Hoyt and Elam said the cameras are needed to help build trust between the community and law enforcement. Trust they said is part of the crime problem in the city. They cited decreases in crime in other cities after police added body cameras.
Jackson police deputy chief Barry Michaels gave council members an update on acquiring the camera technology. Michaels said the department has seen a demonstration of Panasonic cameras. The cameras are similar to the cameras already installed in patrol cars so the two systems will work together seamlessly. This will also save the department money because the city already owns the backend technology to upload and view video.
Michaels said the cameras should be available for demo in April of this year and could be ready for purchase by June. The department plans to request 75 cameras at a cost of $1000 each.
Mayor Gist said 75 cameras will be enough to outfit officers on duty as they are needed for each shift. It will be necessary for officers to share camera equipment. Gist said the council will soon be provided with the budget request.
