Methuen Police are out on patrol with their newest tool this week, training the officers on its force with body cameras.
Methuen received a grant last summer for a body camera test run. 7’s Kelli O’Hara accompanied Officer Arthur Hardy on patrol as he handled traffic stops while wearing the camera and microphone. Hardy said he likes wearing the camera and thinks it is good protection for police.
“When we tell them we have the cameras, it holds them a little more accountable for their actions,” said Hardy.
Methuen Police Chief Joseph Solomon said the cameras give an unbiased account of what happens during traffic stops and arrests. Many police departments across the country are now incorporating body cameras in the wake of some high-profile police-involved shootings and accusations of brutality.
“The more you see these incidents unfold, the more the public demands openness and transparency,” said Solomon.
Forty-seven officers are getting trained on the cameras and Methuen Police said they have to have everyone else on the force trained within the next year. The cost of the cameras is around $1,000 per person but Solomon said the cost is worth it.
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(Copyright (c) 2024 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)