Police in Oak Park Now Wearing Body Cameras
(City of Oak Park, April 26, 2023)
Oak Park, MI – Oak Park Public Safety Officers went live with their body-worn cameras on Monday, April 24, as an additional safety measure for both them and the community.
“This new safety equipment is a welcome addition to our department,” said Oak Park Public Safety Director Steve Cooper. “The ability for officers to utilize body-worn cameras means there is now an additional level of transparency within our department. This equipment will also allow us to build even greater trust with the citizens we so proudly serve.”
The Oak Park Public Safety Department is utilizing Axon body-worn cameras, with each officer being equipped with one. Axon is a public safety technology company and was chosen through a single source bid process due to the amount of products it offers that seamlessly fit with the current technology the department uses, and plans to use in the future.
The City of Oak Park received $560,000 in federal funding for body-worn/in-car cameras through funds former Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence earmarked as part of the 2022 appropriations bill. The allocation of these federal funds primarily funded the project.
“Brenda Lawrence truly represented the best interest of the Oak Park community in her time as a Congresswoman,” said City Manager Erik Tungate. “She was a strong advocate for creating better, safer communities and Oak Park is certainly that because of her.” While the Oak Park Public Safety Department did not have body word cameras until Monday, in-car cameras have long been in use. In-car cameras are helpful during traffic stops but, unlike body-worn cameras, they cannot go inside locations with the officers.
“The body-worn cameras can be taken pretty much anywhere, allowing for that level of transparency that is expected in today’s society” said Cooper. “We’re very proud of the work and the service we provide and this new equipment provides us a path to provide even greater service to our community.”
Currently, the Oak Park Department of Public Safety has 47 sworn officers and is looking to fill 14 positions. Each officer is equipped with a body-worn camera. Learn more about Oak Park Public Safety at https://www.oakparkmi.gov/departments/public_safety/index.php
