Bradenton police’s new body cameras won’t come cheap. How will the city pay for them?
The Bradenton Police Department is moving forward with a body camera program expected to cost about $1.2 million over the next five years.
A 6-week pilot program to test different bodycam models concluded earlier this year, according to Police Chief Melanie Bevan. The chosen product far exceeds the competition with features designed to automatically activate in certain situations and better picture quality.
There are several triggers that will automatically activate body cameras worn by any officer within about 90 feet, such as when an officer pulls their firearm, reaches a certain speed in their vehicle or turns on their lights and sirens.
“This device takes the ‘oops’ out of it,” Bevan told the Bradenton City Council at Wednesday’s meeting. “My uniformed officers, when they’re out doing uniformed policing, will have their cameras on, period.”
Bevans says the department already uses dashcams and body microphones to record officer interactions. While the agency has researched body cameras for months, the announcement comes after an extended period of nationwide unrest following George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis.
Speaking at a social demonstration shortly after the incident sent shockwaves across the country, Bevan told activists that she looked forward to improving relationships with the community.
“We can do better and we will do better,” she said at the time.
Councilman Bill Sanders pushed for bodycams at a City Council meeting in May. Now that a proposal has come forward, he suspects ulterior motives.
“Isn’t it convenient that this comes up now that the City Council has momentum with a charter amendment for police oversight? There’s always a motive behind these things,” Sanders said in an interview with the Bradenton Herald.
The ongoing cost associated with the equipment was the biggest question mark for city officials. The police department will handle the cost of the first year, but the 5-year lease program includes annual payments of up to $150,000.
Bevan is hoping to equip 91 of her 123 officers with bodycams, including every patrol officer, school resource officer and special investigations detective. The department is also requesting two records staff to handle body camera footage, at the combined cost of $110,000 a year — bringing the 5-year cost to an estimated $1.2 million.
“I’m glad we’re going here and I’m in support of it,” Councilman Patrick Roff said. “Now we just have to figure out how to pay for it.”
“One thing I’ve always said is public safety is the only reason for local government,” Mayor Wayne Poston added.
Bevan noted that the Axon Body 3 camera isn’t the cheapest on the market but argued its features make it one of the best options available.
“We’re trying to be conservative because we understand this year,” Bevan said. “This is something we think is important, but at the end of the day, it’s a financial burden for the city.”
There are ways to pay for it, though, according to City Administrator Carl Callahan. The city could shift funding currently set aside for public safety vehicles. Bevan also offered to use the police department’s forfeiture funds to pay for the bodycam hardware in the first year.
“This is a long-term commitment from City Council,” Callahan explained. “The reality is that years two through five, you’ll be at full cost.”
Despite the cost, council members agreed that a bodycam program is a priority for the community.
“To me, the public’s trust is priceless,” Councilwoman Marianne Barnebey said. “I think it’s important we have quality equipment for the protection of our officers and our citizens.”
“I know it’s been talked about in the community and it’s been talked about to death. I think we know what we need to do,” she continued.
Bevan says she expects to begin negotiating the bodycam policy with the police union in the coming days. Callahan said city staff will put together a plan for funding the program at the next City Council meeting on Oct. 14.
“This is going to be for the betterment of the city,” said Councilman Harold Byrd, Jr.
Sanders argued that he would rather figure out the policy before the city commits to paying for the bodycams. Poston said he and Bevan have a healthy relationship with the union, but Sanders says he doesn’t see the draft bodycam policy as a “slam dunk.”
“We’re not going to do this without the policy. They’re not going to get my yes vote unless we can clarify exactly how these are used,” Sanders said. “That’s the issue they have all around the country. They have bodycams, but they’re not turned on — what the hell is the point?”
This story was originally published September 24, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
