Wauwatosa Police One Step Closer To Body Cameras For All Officers

WAUWATOSA, WI — Wauwatosa police are one step closer to having a mandatory body camera requirement after police chief Barry Weber told city officials he supports purchasing the cameras for all officers.

"The time is right for our city to move forward on body cameras, in addition to the squad videos," he said before members of the Wauwatosa Committee of the Whole on Tuesday evening.

In his recommendation, Weber said he supports the city buying 100 body cameras while also updating the police squad cameras.

In a presentation before the committee, Weber made several camera model recommendations. A Panasonic Arbitrator body-worn camera, an Axon Body 3 camera setup and an Axon Fleet 2 police squad camera system.

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."

City officials have been authorized by the committee to begin preparations for body-worn cameras. Officials are also researching federal grant opportunities to help defray the cost of the cameras and data management.