PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — While many local Pennsylvania police departments have been wearing body cameras for years, the same can’t be said for state troopers. That’s set to change.
Pennsylvania State Police in Carlisle, Cumberland County will be the first troop in the state to take part in a body cam pilot program. Up until now, officials have relied on dashcam video in their investigations.
“It was apparent to us that the mobile video recorders in the cars were well beyond their projected use life,” said Col. Christopher Paris, commissioner of the State Police.
As a cost reduction measure, the troopers will share 18 body cameras between shifts over a 60- to 90-day trial period.
Paris said this tool will make troopers “better at performing their job.”
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“We’re very excited about embracing this technology as the Pennsylvania State Police moves toward the future of law enforcement,” he added. “This maintains our commitment to staying at the forefront of both equipment and technology, as well as our primary goal of providing our personnel with the resources necessary for increasing personal safety, job efficiency, effectiveness and service.”
After reviewing the findings, officials expect to implement a statewide rollout.
State Police signed a five-year contract with Axon Enterprise for 1,700 new in-car cameras, 2,500 body cameras, and 100 interview room cameras, all worth $10.1 million.
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The State Troopers Association said it supports the body cam program, but that support is contingent on Pennsylvania hiring more troopers.
“With fresh resources and more troopers, Pennsylvania can build a national model for other states to emulate,” said State Troopers Association President Dave Kennedy.
State Police were not wearing body cameras in June, when a trooper shot and killed an 18-year-old who investigators say struck two troopers on I-95.
Paris said State Police had been unable to launch a program sooner because of the size of the agency.
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