BPD a step closer to wearing body-worn cameras

Posted on November 14, 2018
Bloomington Police Department
Bloomington Police will unveil a plan to the city council Monday night to provide officers with body-worn cameras. (WJBC file photo)

 

By Howard Packowitz

BLOOMINGTON – Top brass at Bloomington Police are about to roll out a proposal to provide officers with body-worn cameras.

City Manager Tim Gleason announced Chief Clay Wheeler and two of his assistant chiefs will present a proposal Monday night that’s about two years in the making. Council action is expected at the end of the month.

“We’re going to have a public discussion, and then we plan on bringing this before council as an agenda item on November 26,” said Gleason.

The most recent report to the council on body-worn cameras came in April when former Chief Brendan Heffner said the department had been testing various equipment. Some officers, Heffner said, were hesitant to wear the cameras, but soon understood their importance.

Aldermen are also considering moving Monday night council meetings to Tuesdays. The change might happen the middle of next year. Council member Kimberly Bray supports the idea saying it would give aldermen an extra day to study and question staff about various agenda items that usually aren’t available until Thursday or Friday of the previous week.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]

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