Law Enforcement Implements Body Camera System

The state’s top law enforcement agency announced last week a $15 million body camera system to assist Indiana state troopers with their jobs.

The three-camera system includes the camera worn by officers along with others recording views from the dashboard and rear facing interior of the police cars. In addition to providing accountability for law enforcement, Indiana State Police Sgt. John Perrine said the cameras can be used as a training tool.

“It allows for things to be reviewed. Some officers have found most beneficial is being able to learn from different things that they've been involved in,” Perrine said. “Essentially watch a replay and see maybe things that went well and things that didn’t.”

The cameras for ISP were among Gov. Eric Holcomb’s proposals intended to address systemic racism within state government after last year’s social justice protests. Perrine said the agency believes the cameras will add another layer of transparency, but acknowledges concerns over camera footage credibility and authenticity.

“The State Police has zero access to edit or delete any of the videos that are captured on the recording device. Those videos are automatically uploaded to a storage cloud,” Perrine said.

ISP policy prohibits officers from muting their microphones or stopping a recording while on duty.  Nearly 230 cameras have already been distributed.