Warminster Police To Start Wearing Body Cameras Wednesday

WARMINSTER, PA — Warminster Police will join several other Bucks County law enforcement agencies as they begin to wear body cameras as part of a new program, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

The U.S. Justice Department has disbursed $23 million to 73 police departments around the nation, including Doylestown, Chalfont, New Britain, and Warminster, officials said, as part of a pilot program.

The body-worn camera pilot program was originally announced in May 2015, the Department of Justice said, and money invested in the program will study their efficacy.

“This vital pilot program is designed to assist local jurisdictions that are interested in exploring and expanding the use of body-worn cameras in order to enhance transparency, accountability and credibility,” Attorney General Lynch said in September. “The impact of body-worn cameras touches on a range of outcomes that build upon efforts to mend the fabric of trust, respect and common purpose that all communities need to thrive.”

In October 2015, Central Bucks Regional Police Department was awarded a grant from The Office of Justice Programs to form a collaboration of eight law enforcement agencies in Bucks County to implement the body-worn cameras.

The collaboration has met on a monthly basis to explore the suitability and feasibility of the body-worn cameras, according to information from the Central Bucks Regional Police Department. "A community survey was conducted in December 2015 returning positive feedback from the public regarding the deployment of BWCs," the announcement said.

Additionally, the collaboration of local police departments researched companies and equipment, best practices for storage of the data, and a comprehensive protocol and policy for the application of the cameras.

Body-worn camera policies for each department will be accessible through the Central Bucks Regional Police Department website.

Patch file photo.