The Butler University Police Department is preparing to test more body cameras as they get ready to equip the department by the end of the year. Officers have been testing one camera for a few days and they will start testing a second on Thursday.
Butler University Police Chief John Conley said it is a way to better protect officers and the campus community.
A body camera in July captured the moment University of Cincinnati officer Ray Tensing fatally shot Samuel Dubose after he was pulled over for not having a front license plate on his car.
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Tensing was fired and charged with Dubose’s murder. Video from the body camera Tensing was wearing showed the shooting and the moments leading up to it.
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“It keeps everyone in check at the scene to make sure procedures are followed properly, and actually documents for the criminal cases what actually happened and what occurred,” Conley said.
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Butler University has set aside $30,000 to test similar cameras.
“The benefit to the department is the same to any police agency across the state or across the country-- it's another tool of technology that officers can use. It improves officer safety and it improves the safety of the public,” Conley said.
Butler University students told RTV6 Wednesday that they are in favor of the security step.
It could also benefit the university’s 20 officers in more ways than one.
“If you're wearing a body camera, it can diffuse a situation if people know they are being filmed,” Conley said.
The department will decide on how many cameras to buy based on their current testing phase.
IMPD is also working to add more body cameras with money set aside for them in next year’s budget.
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