The Collierville Police Department is working to add body cameras to the police uniforms worn by its officers.
The town’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen is scheduled to approve the purchase of 10 cameras next week during its regularly scheduled semi-monthly meeting.
The police department began implementing in-car camera systems in the mid-1990s.
The department has already purchased five body worn cameras to test and evaluate the systems.
Up to 10 cameras will be purchased in the first phase of the program.
The purchase will not require any additional funds to be added to the department’s annual budget.
“It will allow us to further evaluate the program over the next year,” said Police Chief Dale Lane.
In 2013, approximately one-third of U.S. municipal police departments had implemented the use of body-worn cameras, according to the National Institute of Justice.
Proponents of body-worn cameras point to several potential benefits, including; better transparency, quicker resolution, corroborating evidence and public trust.
Initially, Collierville officers who will be equipped with cameras could include the motorcycle unit, walking foot patrol officers and specialized enforcement operations the use unmarked vehicles.
