Sumner Police Begin Wearing Body Cameras

SUMNER, WA — If you see an officer around Sumner, you might notice them wearing a little extra equipment starting this week. That's because, according to a recent update from the City of Sumner, Sumner Police Department officers have begun wearing body cameras full-time.

The move comes after nearly a year of preparation and testing. Sumner City Council first approved a body-worn camera policy in May 2021, in the hopes of building transparency and trust between law enforcement and the public.

"Transparency is a key foundation of trust," the city said. "The public’s expectations that police actions be recorded is increasing. In fact, some communities/groups have demanded it."

The city says the move also helps officers, as it can show their perspective as events unfold, and help foster a better understanding of arrests, altercations or other intense events. City leaders have also stressed that this action was not spurred by specific complaints against Sumner Police, but rather as a response to the national conversation about policing and racism in America.

"To offer more transparency for everyone, we're pursuing body-worn cameras. We chose to implement body-worn cameras without a State mandate or political pressures, but because we believe in our City's vision to set the standard of excellence for a progressive small city," wrote Sumner Mayor Bill Pugh last summer.

Under the city's policy, officers need to wear cameras and turn them on:

• When they leave a patrol vehicle to any dispatched law enforcement activity.
• When they begin a police pursuit or tailing.
• During stops and field interviews.
  • This includes traffic stops and when helping stranded drivers.
• Any other contact that "becomes adversarial after the initial contact," IE situations that didn't require body cam use at first, but have escalated.

Officers are allowed a few exceptions, such as when they are in the bathroom, or when victims require privacy (like during interviews with children or sexual assault victims). Officers will also be allowed to argue cases where they believe recording would have been unsafe or impractical.

>> Learn more about the policy from the City of Sumner.