Fulton School Officers To Wear Body Cameras

SANDY SPRINGS, GA — Fulton County Schools police officers are being outfitted for the first time with body cameras for the 2018-19 school year, the school system said Wednesday.

These camera systems will become part of its officers' standard uniform similar to the body armor/vests and other safety equipment are now standard issue.

Distribution of body cameras began last month to about 40 officers. The remaining officers — about 20 — will receive their new equipment this week and will be trained on how the cameras operate.

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Called Portable Audio and Video recording systems, the cameras are designed to assist and complement the officers in the performance of their duties with a visual or audio recording of certain activities.

The recordings are intended to provide an unbiased record of incidents, "thereby supplementing the officer’s reports and providing transparency of police interactions with students and the community," Fulton County schools said.

FCS spokesperson Susan Hale said the purchase totaled roughly $30,637, and the project was funded with money from the district's Safety & Security budget. Seventy-five camera systems were ordered, at $385 each, plus $25 for backup batteries, she added.

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