TIVERTON — Chief Patrick Jones is pleased to provide an update on the Tiverton Police Department’s body-worn camera program.
The department’s pilot program began in September 2022, with full program implementation beginning on Feb. 15. All sworn officers have been issued a body-worn camera — including Chief Jones and Deputy Chief James Costa — and have received training on how the device operates and functions.
Officers are now required by department policy to wear the body-worn camera at all times during their shift. Policy dictates that they activate the camera during all interactions with the public that are a result of a call for service, at the initiation of any investigative or enforcement activity involving a member of the public, at the initiation of any pursuit or emergency driving, and when the officer is assisting another officer in any of the above situations.
The body-worn camera will automatically activate under certain circumstances, including when the officer’s Taser or firearm is unholstered. Officers will keep in consideration the expectation of privacy when activating the body-worn camera in certain areas, such as private residences or hospitals.
Officers are also encouraged to inform individuals that they are being recorded as soon as it is practical during police interactions.
The department’s full Body-Worn Camera Policy, including expectations regarding activation and deactivation, retention and access to BWC recordings, is available online through the Tiverton Police Department website, or can be accessed directly by clicking here.
Prior to the launch of the program, the department conducted research into policy and best practices, vetted vendors, worked with the selected vendor to tailor the system for the department’s needs, and developed formal policies for camera use and data storage. The department worked with Axon to purchase the cameras, which are embedded in officers’ uniforms to prevent them from detaching.
The department has purchased 31 body-worn cameras, which were funded by a $271,250 grant from the State of Rhode Island and the U.S. Department of Justice. The grant awarded to the Tiverton Police Department was part of $16 million in grant awards for 42 law enforcement agencies that were announced by state, federal and law enforcement leaders in October 2022.
“Body-worn camera programs in Rhode Island have been long in the making, and we are pleased to have this technology for our department. I am grateful to the local and state officials and the Rhode Island Police Chiefs’ Association for their support of this program, as well as Sgt. Jason Kobelecki who spearheaded the implementation of our program,” said Chief Jones. “Body-worn cameras are well-regarded technology for modern police departments, and we look forward to seeing how the program can help us promote progress, transparency and public trust.”
The benefits of a body-worn camera program are well-established. The usage of cameras improves accountability, transparency and professionalism. Work to equip frontline police officers with body-worn cameras across the state of Rhode Island has been ongoing in recent years.
In 2020, Rhode Island police departments signed onto the Twenty for 2020 campaign, which included 20 promises made by Chiefs across the state to adopt and follow best practices in order to continue to carry out duties fairly and impartially. As part of this initiative, each police department pledged to explore establishing a body-worn camera program, and the Rhode Island Police Chiefs’ Association pledged to explore funding and policy guidance to support these programs.
In June 2021, Gov. Dan McKee signed legislation creating the Statewide Body-Worn Camera Program to equip every frontline police officer with body-worn cameras. The Attorney General and Department of Public Safety, in consultation with the Rhode Island Police Chiefs’ Association, were tasked with implementing the program, including promulgating rules and regulations to create statewide policy and eventually administer funding for departments to deploy body-worn cameras to officers.
In December 2021, Rhode Island’s Congressional Delegation secured a $1.5 million Department of Justice grant to supplement state funding for the program. Under the program, state and municipal police departments applied for grant funding to cover the projected cost of cameras and related hardware, software, and storage, and an agency’s significant administrative costs in operating body-worn cameras.
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