HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) have reached a new milestone in their duty. As of April 29, 2024, all patrol troopers in Troop K, assigned to Philadelphia, Montgomery, and Delaware counties, are equipped with body-worn cameras and updated mobile video recorders in their patrol vehicles. PSP has made remarkable progress, completing the rollout in the Philadelphia region ahead of schedule.
So far, PSP deployments across 19 counties have successfully employed body-worn cameras, and the plan is to outfit all troops with this equipment by the end of the first quarter of 2025.
Colonel Christopher Paris, the Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police, affirmed the department’s commitment to the public interest. He stated, “The use of body-worn cameras demonstrates our commitment to ensuring police interactions are respectful and constitutional. The cameras also provide concise capture of evidence in criminal cases and enhance our training opportunities.”
This significant move by the PSP has earned accolades from legislators. State Senator Nikil Saval, Chair of the Senate’s Philadelphia Delegation, voiced his appreciation for this essential move towards promoting safety, respect, and accountability during encounters between the police and the community.
State Representative Morgan Cephas, Chair of the Philadelphia House Delegation, echoed these sentiments, hailing this as a critical advancement in enhancing transparency and accountability within law enforcement agencies. She stated, “These cameras are a vital tool in protecting both our citizens and our officers, providing clear and objective accounts of interactions.”
This is not an entirely new initiative for PSP. They have been using mobile video recorders in patrol vehicles for nearly two decades. However, these dash-mounted cameras provided only a limited view of events, recording solely the incidences that occurred in front of the patrol vehicle.
The newly enhanced version of the mobile video recorders offers a broader view of events, and the officer-worn cameras capture video and audio of public interactions and service calls, even when officers are away from their vehicle.
The rollout for body-worn cameras began in 2023, kickstarting with Troop H, Carlisle station in Cumberland County. Body-worn cameras were then introduced throughout Troop H in the middle of the state. Presently, all stations in troops A, B, G, H, and K have adopted body-worn cameras. This includes all stations covering Adams, Allegheny, Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Centre, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Fayette, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Huntingdon, Indiana, Juniata, Mifflin, Montgomery, Perry, Philadelphia, Somerset, Washington, and Westmoreland counties.
To facilitate this initiative, the department entered into a five-year contract, with renewal options, with Arizona-based Axon to supply the cameras and the necessary software and infrastructure.
In a nutshell, the significant stride by the Pennsylvania State Police to equip all patrol officers with body cameras is a testament to their dedication to enhancing transparency, fostering accountability, and increasing the confidence of the public in law enforcement. This step contributes to creating safer and more just communities across the state.
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