The Plant City Police Department has launched its body-worn camera program, announcing that all its officers will be equipped with cameras going forward.
The department started exploring the body-worn camera program in 2020 and began field testing several brands in 2021. The City Commission authorized the City Manager to execute an agreement to purchase the cameras last year, in part with a grant from Bureau of Justice Assistance.
Eighty camera systems were purchased at a cost of $395,581 for the five-year contract ($79,116.20 per year), which includes a five-year warranty, video storage and technical support.
The equipment, Motorola Solutions Watchguard V300, attaches to the front of the officers’ uniforms and is used to capture an audio and visual record of every interaction between officers and the community. Each police vehicle is also equipped with a spare battery and charging station so that in the event a shift runs longer, the officer can swap out the battery and keep working.
The cameras, featuring a crisp 1080p resolution and Bluetooth and WiFi encryption, has onboard storage. When officers have an interaction with the public, they press a button to start recording. When the interaction, which can last a minute or hours, is finished, the officer pushes the button again to stop recording. Video footage is uploaded to cloud storage and maintained by Digital Evidence Technician Brandon Volden.
Per department policy, upon initial contact and when reasonable, the officer will attempt to notify the citizen of the body-worn camera.
The cameras offer many benefits to both officers and the citizens they serve. “The use of these cameras encourages public trust, transparency, improved officer behavior and leads to the resolution of citizen complaints in a more timely manner,” said Police Chief James Bradford.
In addition, the footage is an invaluable tool for prosecutors. “Body-worn cameras not only build trust with the community, but they also act as invaluable tools for law enforcement and our attorneys in the courtroom,” said State Attorney Suzy Lopez. “The footage provides essential evidence during trial that, when used in conjunction with eyewitness testimony, helps strengthen a case.”
PCPD officers, who learned how to use the technology in a four-hour training, have had positive reactions to the cameras. “All of the officers in this agency have embraced the technology,” said McDaniel.
”I believe that having body-worn cameras have been a great tool for everyday policing and will continue to keep our law enforcement officers and community members accountable,” said Officer Aaron Bennett. “The body-worn camera has not hindered my day-to-day law enforcement duties but has enhanced the way I review my calls for service in order to better the way I police.”