ST. PETERSBURG, Fla- — The St. Petersburg Police Department says they will begin rolling out its "body-worn cameras" today Thursday, December 10.
The first squads began training earlier in the week, with the first officers with cameras hitting the streets December 10.
"It will take 4-6 weeks to get all the officers through the training and issued a body camera. In-car cameras will also be part of the program. These will take longer to install in 360 patrol cars and should be completed in 2021."
The department purchased a total of 575 body cameras. They released the 5-year cost breakdown as follows:
- Year 1 total costs: $2.6M
- Year 2 total costs: $1.03M
- Year 3 total costs: $1.03M
- Year 4 total costs: $1.03M
- Year 5 total costs: $1.03M
- Grand Total 5 Year Costs: $ 6.75M
The cameras are designed to automatically record, with a 30-second pre-roll, anytime an officer removes their gun or taser from the holster.
The department says officers will also be required to manually activate the camera for the following circumstances:
- Traffic stops
- Pedestrian stops
- Crimes in progress
- Vehicle pursuits
- Suspicious person/vehicle contacts
- Arrests
- Vehicle searches
- Anytime currency/valuables are handled
- Physical or verbal confrontations
- Domestic violence call
- DUI investigation
- Foots pursuit
- Advising an individual of their Miranda warning
- Use of Force during
- Building clearances
- Any situation or incident that the Officer, through training and experience believes should be recorded.
