The Springfield City Council has given the go-ahead for its police to wear body cameras.
Springfield Police Chief Richard Lewis says his department has been looking into body cameras for several years, but the high cost of implementation kept them from moving forward. He says a majority of law enforcement wears them now.
“This is the technology of today. This is the kind of the expectation of the public that we have these systems in place.”
Lewis estimates the cost will be around $340,000 to launch the program.
“They’re a good tool. But, like with any tool or anything, there’s drawback. The biggest drawback and the biggest concern I have is its one more step the officers have to do that takes them off the street.”
Lewis says he expects to have cameras on Springfield Police officers in late fall. According to Lewis, the Sheriff’s department and Cottage Grove Police are the only other officers who don’t have a body cam program in Lane County.
