AVON — Officers with the Avon Police Department are now outfitted with body cameras, which the agency says will allow them to better protect the community and themselves, and increase transparency.
A $30,000 grant from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security made it possible.
All 38 officers on staff with the Avon Police Department have them. It's a move Deputy Chief Brian Nugent says is important.
"So the idea that these camera systems can preclude us from being in a situation where we say, 'The officer neglected to turn on their body camera, they did not have it activated,' this technology allows us to not have to worry about that," said Nugent.
Officers with the department say it gives them comfort.
"If there is any question about how I handle a situation or say something happens to me ... Unfortunately, we live in a society and a time period where officers are being ambushed. Just having that documentation, that recording can help detect and really proceed that investigation and hopefully catch the people who are doing those things," said Sgt. James Schwartz a seven-year veteran with the department.
Each body camera is about $1,000. The recordings are in 4K resolution.
The department received the funding for the cameras through the Criminal Justice Reform Bill, also known as House Bill 1006. The money was granted through the Indiana Department of Homeland Security.
-
‘13 FIRES’: One family’s story of resilience amid turmoil along Indiana Avenue
“13 FIRES” by Curtis K. Rogers tells the story of one family's resiliency while living along Indiana Avenue in 1956.
Dominated by No.2 Ohio State for years, No. 5 Indiana has a chance for payback
If Indiana beats Ohio State and closes out the season with a win over Purdue, the Hoosiers will be in the Big Ten championship for the first time since the inception of the game in 2011.
Preparing for the political chatter around the table on Thanksgiving
IU psychology professor Edward Hirt offers insight on navigating through this first big family get-together, since an historic and polarizing election.
No. 16 Indiana remains unbeaten with 69-58 win over UNC Greensboro
Myles Rice scored 14 of his 20 points in the first half, freshman Bryson Tucker finished with a season-high 14 and No. 16 Indiana got past UNC Greensboro 69-58 on Thursday night.
