The Salem Police Department is ready to launch its body-worn camera program. On Wednesday, the department announced it had completed all the steps needed to begin wearing the cameras.
Officials say the addition of the cameras is important as the agency moves forward in the pursuit of safety, legitimacy, and excellence.
After much effort and preparation, we are excited to now provide this important tool for our officers and our community,” said Salem Police Chief Trevor Womack.
The department began exploring the use of body-worn cameras in June 2021, with budget authority from the Salem City Council.
Officials say that cameras will be worn by sworn staff working patrol duties, as well as detectives working in the field. Salem police will roll out the cameras on Feb. 13, 2023.
During a news conference Feb. 8, officials with the department exemplified the body camera in action, showing a video of an officer rescuing a dog that became impaled on a chain link fence.
Womack says body cameras will help provide more accountability to the public.
"Especially for an officer-involved shooting or deadly-use-of-force investigation. They are going to be critical pieces of evidence. You do see the DA releasing photos from security video and so forth. This is going to be additional video footage that they will have," he said..
The rollout makes Salem one of Oregon's nine largest cities to require its police force to wear body cameras. Per its last update, the Portland Police Bureau is still working to rollout its pilot program.
Salem will pay $413,000 a year to Motorola for body cameras, forward facing patrol vehicle cameras and a camera in the back seat of the car.
Brandon Ditto, the department's deputy chief, says having all three cameras will paint a more accurate picture to be used as evidence.
"It is much different looking at a football game from the viewpoint of the helmet or on the 50-yard line," he said.
When asked how officers who chose not to or forgot to turn on the camera might be disciplined, Ditto said, "It's dealt with the same as any of our discipline models. We have progressive and consistent discipline models."
He said if a review team were to find that the camera was turned off intentionally, the consequences would be more severe than if an officer were to forget to turn it on. He also noted that the department will be allowing a 60-day grace period for officers to get used to the program.
Since June 2021, the department has established a comprehensive program including the development of a policy, conducting field trials, and the evaluation for vendor selection, acquisition, and training.
Citizens with questions and concerns regarding the body cameras can check out the Salem Police website.
Body-worn cameras will provide yet another way to critique and learn, to inform our training and professional development efforts,” Chief Womack added.