Chicago PD to Arm More Officers with Body Cameras

Chicago PD to Arm More Officers with Body Cameras

The Chicago Police Department is expected to receive a shipment of 450 body cameras that will be deployed on officers in some of the most gang-plagued areas of the city.

After officers are trained on how to use the cameras, they will be sent to 7 of the 22 police districts with the most crime with the body cams that are capable of recording 72 continuous hours of high-definition video and audio on a single charge.

"Body cameras are one tool that the police department uses to serve and protect the people of Chicago," interim Superintendent Eddie Johnson said in a statement. "They play an important role in not just fighting crime, but also in learning from actual encounters with the public."

The department saw success when they first started using the cameras in one of the 22 districts in January 2015. The other six districts with the most crime will expect to see the body cameras by the end of summer.

The new cameras come at a time when surveillance in Chicago is a top priority. The department has been struggling with officers not reporting broken equipment, such as dash cams or microphones. They also find it hard to insist that officers upload all their footage at the end of their shifts.

The issue was highlighted in the case of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald who was shot 16 times by an officer. While all five responding officers had front facing cameras on their dashes, none of the cars had audio.

The program is expected to be funded with a $1.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Justice in matching funds from the city. The Chicago Police Department has also applied for state grants to assist with camera purchases, storage, maintenance, upload stations and other program-related costs.

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

New Products

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols.

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities