Body Cams For Wauwatosa Police Likely By End Of 2020

WAUWATOSA, WI—Wauwatosa police could have body cameras by the end of 2020. Police Chief Barry Weber told members of the Police and Fire Commission on Sept. 17 the department is prepared to make a recommendation to the Common Council regarding body cameras.

"The Council indicated they wanted to have the body cameras sooner than later. We believe we might even have them by the end of the year," Weber said.

Wauwatosa Mayor Dennis McBride said for a number of years, the Wauwatosa Police Department has deployed dashboard-mounted cameras and provided body cameras for use by motorcycle officers. It is the city's expectation the department will have body cameras for all patrol officers by the end of 2020 or early in 2021.

"Purchasing the additional body cameras will cost about $750,000 over a five-year period and there will be other costs, such as staff time for responding to open records requests for videos, associated with the use of the additional cameras. This will be an expensive undertaking, but it is hoped that deploying the cameras will provide the community with additional accountability but also additional confidence in the WPD's activities," McBride told Patch.

This past June, Weber told city officials he supports purchasing the cameras for all officers.

In his Committee of the Whole recommendation, Weber said he supports the city buying 100 body cameras while also updating the police squad cameras. Under a proposal by Wauwatosa police regarding the use of body-worn cameras, officers would activate the camera:

• During all traffic stops.
• As directed by a supervisor.
• During any other contact or call the officer deems appropriate.

In addition, Wauwatosa police said officers "should try to start recording, provided they are able to do so safely, whenever operating in emergency operation mode; as defined in the current Emergency vehicle operation policy or whenever operating in vehicle pursuit mode."

The request for body cameras comes after protests regarding Joseph Mensah, a Wauwatosa police officer who was involved in three fatal shootings of people of color over the past five years.

Mensah was suspended with pay last month in connection with his involvement in the police-involved deaths of Antonio Gonzalez in 2015, Jay Anderson Jr. in 2016 and Alvin Cole in February of this year.

He has been cleared criminally in the deaths of Gonzalez and Anderson Jr., while his involvement in the death of Cole remains under investigation.

There have been several protests and one where the officer was attacked and shot at this summer.

Police said a group of 50-60 people showed up at where the officer was near 100th Street and Vienna Avenue in the Milwaukee suburb. Three people were charged for their involvement in the incident.