Niles Police Begin Body Camera Pilot Program

NILES, IL — Police have begun wearing body cameras on a trial basis with a goal of eventually using them across the department. The pilot bodycam program will evaluate cameras from three brands for 90 days each before evaluating which one to recommend to the village board, the Niles Police Department announced Friday. Seven cameras are currently deployed in the field.

The brands under consideration are Axon, Safety Vision and Motorola, according to a release. Five body cameras from Axon, formerly known as Taser, and two from Safety Vision are presently being worn in the Patrol Bureau and the Community Assistance Team. The department said it will begin evaluating Motorola's cameras after an agreement with the company is signed.

Several factors would go into the departments decision of which system to recommend, including:

• How easy it is for officers to use.
• Video quality.
• The simplicity of uploading and storing video data.
• How difficult it is to carry out legally required audio and video redaction.
• How much it costs upfront and associated expenses over the long term.

Police said the implementation is part of Chief Luis Tigera's crime prevention initiatives for increased transparency and accountability in the department.

Following the 90-day trial period, police will make a recommendation to the Niles Village Board's Public Safety Committee, which could refer the decision to buy the devices to the full board.

Related:

• Bodycams Fully Implemented By Evanston Police
• All Chicago Patrol Officers Now Equipped With Body Cameras
• Body Cameras Too Costly, Illinois Police Say
• Federal Funding Pays For Lake County Sheriff's Bodycams

Top photo via Shutterstock