Body Cameras Rolling Out To All St. Pete Police Officers, Cars

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — A week after a fatal officer-involved shooting in the city, body-cameras are being issued to St. Petersburg Police officers as of Thursday, Chief Anthony Holloway said. (Video of police training with body-cameras is at the bottom of the article. Video provided by St. Pete Police Department.)

This comes a day after an officer-involved shooting occurred in Riverview with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, which they released video captured of the shooting by the deputy's body-worn-camera on the same day. Eight days ago a police-officer involved shooting occurred with the St. Petersburg Police Department in front of Food Max on 18th Avenue South.

The first squads began training this week, with the first officers with cameras patrolling the streets on Thursday, a news release said.

It will take four to six weeks to get all the officers through the training and issued a body camera. In-car cameras will also be part of the program, according to officials. Installation of cameras in 365 patrol cars is expected to be complete by 2021.

The St. Petersburg Police Department began a trial with the camera company, Axon earlier in 2020, and have purchased 575 body cameras with all associated hardware. Three-hundred-sixty fleet camera systems plus required hardware have also been purchased.

The costs for the police department are broken down below:

• Year 1 total costs: $2.6 million
• Year 2 total costs: $1.03 million
• Year 3 total costs: $1.03 million
• Year 4 total costs: $1.03 million
• Year 5 total costs: $1.03 million
• Grand total 5-year costs: $6.75 million

According to a St. Pete police spokesperson, the cameras will automatically record, with a 30-second pre-roll, any time the weapon or taser is removed from the holster.

Officers will also be required to manually activate the camera for the following circumstances:

• Traffic stops
• Pedestrian stops
• Crimes in progress
• Vehicle pursuits
• Suspicious person/vehicle contacts
• Arrests
• Vehicle searches
• Any time currency/valuables are handled
• Physical or verbal confrontations
• Domestic violence calls
• DUI investigations
• Foot pursuits
• Advising an individual of their Miranda warnings
• Use of Force
• During building clearances
• Any situation or incident that an officer, through training and experience believes should be recorded, officials said.

The nine-page general order policy provided by the St. Petersburg Police Department can be viewed here.

Related Stories:

• Body Cameras Considered By St. Petersburg Police: Chief Holloway
• 3rd Shooting Death In A Month Near Food Max, Leaders Want Peace