Hamden's police chief said that a small, black box equipped with a camera and battery is making a big difference for his police officers. Now all of the officers in the department are getting them.
Last year, the department ordered body cameras for some officers to use. Monday night, the Legislative Council approved spending $59,000 for 39 more police body cameras, so that all 75 officers who wear a uniform will have one.
"It’s made us more transparent. It’s made us more legitimate, and that’s important in our world, especiall," Hamden Police Chief Thomas Wydra said.
Since some officers are already wearing body cameras, the department knows how how they work and how they will be used.
"Just yesterday, we closed an internal investigation where a person made a complaint that officers used excessive force during the arrest and that they were rude and unprofessional in their conduct. Based on audio and video recordings that captured the arrest process, we were able to declare the investigation as unfounded," said Chief Wydra.
Chief Wydra thinks the department will see even more benefits in the long run. The body cameras are activated by the officers, and the video and audio that’s recorded is held by law for at least 60 days. Hamden Police hope by using them, they cut down on citizens’ complaints and improve behavior on all sides.
"I think it would be a good way for them to be accountable for themselves, that way everybody will be able to see what’s going on when something happens," said Tom Ferguson, who lives in Hamden.
"People fighting with cops, if you don’t have the video camera, then they can deny it, and you want proof, so I think that’s great," said Taylor Roberts, who is a Quinnipiac University student.
The new body cams will be ordered this week, and Chief Wydra hopes they’ll be in within a month.
