Bonner Springs Police Department Implements Body Cameras
Bonner Springs, Kansas –
Some citizens of Bonner Springs have probably begun to notice an unusual device attached to Bonner Springs Police Officers’ uniforms either on their glasses or shoulders. This newly acquired technology has brought the Bonner Springs Police Department in line with the expected societal demand for officers to be equipped with Body Worn Cameras. Although these devices are discreet in appearance they serve a vital role to both the police officers and the community.
In March of 2017, with an ailing in car video technology, the Bonner Springs Police Department began to look for alternatives to better capture interactions between its personnel and community members. The Bonner Springs City Council, City Manager, and Chief of Police felt strongly it was time for the Bonner Springs Police Department to evolve and look at advancements in technology to protect the interests of its citizens, the integrity of investigations, and its police personnel. Armed with this vision and direction, the Bonner Springs Police Department assessed current operations in conjunction with available products until ultimately making a selection and recommendation of one particular body worn camera solution, Axon.
The Bonner Springs City Council voted to enter into an agreement with Axon for the Body Camera solution. This action represented an investment of nearly $25,000 – with an annual cost of $17,000. Upon delivery, the Bonner Springs Police Department trained all personnel on the policy, use, and deployment of the devices and full deployment commenced in June of 2017. The Axon solution provides the department with the capability to fully deploy every officer with a body worn camera system, and also a mechanism to maintain, store, and disseminate the captured video when necessary.
According to Chief of Police Billy Naff, “With most police contacts occurring outside the viewing area of standard patrol car cameras, the newly acquired technology has already made significant impacts in the level of transparency, policing, and interaction with those requiring police services. The acquisition and deployment is a testament to the commitment of the governing body of the City of Bonner Springs and the Police Department’s commitment to ‘police the community they serve with integrity, respect, and professionalism.”
