Body cameras are on the way to police in New London, where officials this week acted to borrow $625,000 to buy new protective gear for police and firefighters.
The state government enacted the Act Concerning Excessive Force this summer requiring the cameras.
Body cameras could have saved the deputy police chief in New London a lot of grief earlier in his career when he tried to restrain a man.
"The person ended up dying during that use of force," recalled Deputy Police Chief Pete Reichard, "when we were just simply trying to get him to a hospital for mental health treatment."
Now New London police will be first to get body cameras in Southeastern Connecticut. They will also be getting new bulletproof vests and shields.
NAACP officials watching the mayor sign the document said body cameras mean protection for both police and public.
"Citizens of New London plus the officers of New London," said Jean Jordan. "This way there's more transparency in the actions of citizens and police when they come together."
Tamara Lanier, who leads the criminal justice effort for the NAACP.
Local
"I think it's first for a reason here in Southeastern Connecticut because there were a lot of issues here and the NAACP has worked hand in hand with the city of New London to bring about change where we stand today," said Tamara Lanier, who leads the criminal justice effort for the NAACP.
New London firefighters will get new helmets, gloves, and up-to-date breathing gear as part of the $625,000 package Mayor Daryl Justin Finizio says is affordable with grant money and some reimbursement from the state government.
"If there was no reimbursement, we had to spend every dollar on debt service, it would still lower our liability to such an extent that it would save us money in the city of New London," he said.
