BRUNSWICK, Ga. (FCN) -- The Brunswick Police Department is wrapping up a six-month test on body cameras for officers with the expectation for officers to be wearing them in the field as soon as next month.
The department says private donations and grants will defray some of the costs for the new equipment.
"Investigator is able to go back and see what the officer saw when he went to the scene, we can go back and look at witness statements from these cameras," says Capt. Angela Smith, who adds that officers are supportive of the move.
Smith says cameras for 40 patrol officers and the necessary equipment will cost $40,000. Policies dealing with the cameras are still under development. "These cameras increase the reliability of officers' testimony, also increase the accountability of the officer and citizens," said Smith.
"Pictures do not lie," said resident Horace Rhone, who admits he has had run-ins with the law. "...The pictures will be honest... Everybody understand who is in the wrong."
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is not moving on body cameras even though Sheriff Mike Williams is open to the idea. One of the key obstacles to the Sheriff's Office obtaining body cameras is the cost of outfitting 1,600 officers with them, spokesperson Lauri-Ellen Smith told First Coast News.
Smith says price tag would push $2.4 million -- and that's not including training and data storage costs.
The Brunswick Police Department is much smaller and says the cost to make cameras issued gear would be about $1,000 for each officer.
