Bodycams Fully Implemented By Evanston Police

EVANSTON, IL - From the Evanston Police Department: Starting on Friday, January 26, 2018, the Evanston Police Department fully implements its Body-Worn Camera Program. Nationwide, the use of body-worn cameras have become a best practice for police departments. Law enforcement agencies are using body-worn cameras in different ways, including improvements in evidence collection, strengthening of officer performance and accountability, enhancing transparency, better documentation during encounters between the police and the public and to assist in the investigation of complaints. Studies have shown that the presence of a body-worn camera has a positive effect on the behavior of both officers and citizens during encounters.

This program started with a pilot program in which nine officers and two supervisors from the Evanston Police Department tested body-worn cameras from June through September of 2017. The pilot program was successful, the body-worn camera proved to be a valuable tool in all phases of police operations. Use of the body-worn cameras were useful in investigating criminal incidents and complaints by citizens about police conduct.

The program is a cooperative effort between the Evanston Police Department and Northwestern University Police Department. Working in partnership the Evanston Police Department and Northwestern University Police Department were able to secure a federal grant that assisted in funding the body-worn camera program for both departments. The Evanston Police Department has been able to purchase 120 body-worn cameras.

With the implementation of the Body-Worn Camera Program all Evanston Police Officers in the field will be using a body-worn camera and recording all public encounters consistent with state law. Citizens should have the expectation that encounters that are not exempted by state law will be recorded.

A body-worn camera page has been added to the City of Evanston website that includes, a draft copy of our policy, a link to the State of Illinois law regarding body-worn cameras and a survey that solicits input from the community on the program. The final draft of the policy will be added to the website at a later date.

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