Crime & Safety

$30K OK'd for Police Body Cameras to Boost Public Trust

Unbiased documentation from police body cameras "tells the story from the officer's perspective."

Beth Dalbey's profile picture
Beth Dalbey, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge

CANTON TOWNSHIP — Canton Township is spending $30,000 to outfit 60 police officers with body cameras early next year in a move designed to boost eroding public trust in police officers.

Public Safety Director Todd Mutchler told the Canton Township Board of Trustees Tuesday that with smartphone cameras commonly used by the public to record police interactions, the body cameras provide unbiased documentation of what took place, The Canton Observer/Hometownlife.com reports.

“This tells the story from the officer’s perspective,” Mutchler said. “It really levels the playing field.”

Find out what's happening in Plymouth-Cantonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Officials are developing policies governing the use of the equipment, including those addressing privacy rights. and how to handle what is expected to be an increase in Freedom of Information Act requests for video.

Officers are expected to begin wearing the cameras early next spring.

Find out what's happening in Plymouth-Cantonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Also this week, township trustees approved a nearly $30,000 for the police department to buy 11 new Taser guns, and a $7,2000 for a new mobile radar speed trailer that will be parked along the road to digitally advise motorists of their speed.

» Photo via Flickr / Creative Commons

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from Plymouth-Canton