East Haven police officers may soon have another piece of equipment to wear while they're on the job: body cameras.
“It's a protective measure for the officers who are out on the road. It captures an accurate representation of what really happened,” said East Haven Police Lt. David Emerman.
It also helps the East Haven Police Department comply with a federal consent decree, which was enacted in 2012 to deal with allegations of unlawful discrimination against Latinos in the town.
As part of the settlement, dash cams were installed on cruisers, and officers had cameras installed on their stun guns.
“The tasers, we had some issues with,” said Emerman.
That's why they're looking to switch over to the body cameras.
“The officers welcome the body cameras because they feel it will protect them as they're doing their job, and they're conducting themselves in a professional manner,” said Emerman.
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Branford police say using body cams has helped them resolve a number of complaints. About two years ago, the department implemented body cameras for every patrol officer.
“It has reduced all of our civilian complaints that there has not been one sustainable complaint made against any of our officers,” said Branford Police Captain Geoffrey Morgan.
He said it's a tool every department should have.
“It's probably one of the best investments, and one of the best technologies that has come to policing during my tenure here,” said Morgan.
East Haven hopes to have the new body cameras in the next few months.
