Madison police officers will not be wearing body cameras any time soon.
The Madison City Council overwhelmingly opposed equipping Madison Police officers with body cameras. Instead the city will work to improve police/community relations and to build trust.
For months, the City studied the issue. The Community Policing and Body Camera Ad Hoc Committee spent the summer exploring issues and on Sept. 2 voted 4-2 against a proposal to equip officers from one of the department’s five districts with body cameras for testing in 2016.
Testimony from citizens, which included people of color and victims of domestic abuse, emphasized that the city wasn’t quite ready for the cameras, but should instead look to improve improve trust and police/community relations.
“We’re not saying the cameras won’t be used ever. Right now we need to pay attention to the concerns of the community first,” said ad hoc committee chair Veronica Lazo. “Take care of that, then possibly move forward in the future with the use of body cameras.”
As a result of last night’s vote, three members of the body camera committee will join the Police Department Policy and Procedure Review Committee to study the department to find citizen-led ways to address issues of trust and implement the recommendations made by the body camera advisory committee.
