HARTFORD, Conn. (WTIC Radio) - After obtaining 150 new body cameras, the Hartford Police Department now has enough cameras for all of its members.
Hartford Chief of Police Jason Thody and Mayor Luke Bronin announced the purchase of 150 new cameras on Tuesday, bringing the total number of body-worn cameras within the department to 475.
Besides equipping all of the Hartford police department personnel, there are also spare body cameras available to ensure there is always one on hand when needed, Thody said.
Officers and detectives will be wearing the body cameras when in uniform or when investigating an accident, Thody said. The only time an on-duty officer wouldn't wear one is during an under-cover operation, he said, though officers with cameras will be nearby.
The City of Hartford first rolled out the use of body cameras in 2019 with 325 cameras. Back then, police officers weren't so eager to embrace them, Thody said.
"I was involved in the body-worn camera program early on when I was a captain, in planning and accreditation, and there was resistance... Now that we have them, a lot of our officers won't go out there without them. This is a difficult time in law enforcement," Thody said.
Not only do the cameras protect officers, Thody explained, but they also promote a sense of transparency and accountability while building trust with the Hartford community.
They've also given officers an opportunity to better training for new officers and for improved tactics.
Hartford Police are looking to upgrading equipment in the future when possible. Currently, the department is looking into signal activation, Thody said.
Signal activation allows for the body-worn camera to turn on when an officer activates a taser, for example, taking away the extra step of remembering to turn on the camera for Hartford officers.
"We're hoping as technology improves that our holsters, maybe, someday will have the ability. So, when we unclick our holster or take your gun out of your holster, it signal activates. When you turn your lights on in your cruiser, there is technology to allow that to signal activate. So, we're going to keep up with that and make it so that we're recording every possible scenario for review," Thody said.