Alaska State Troopers as well as other public safety officials from the state are scheduled to soon start carrying body cameras.
Statewide, the Department of Public Safety released its final body camera policy on Monday. Department spokesperson Austin McDaniel said 30 officers have been outfitted with cameras.
“These officers and troopers are able to give us feedback on how the law is implemented, technology as well as some of the logistical issues,” McDaniel said, “to ensure there’s everything in place prior to our departure and distribute cameras to each state trooper, each wildlife trooper, every court officer deputy fire marshal, and village public safety official who is working across in the entire state.”
McDaniel stated that the first camera rollout is taking place throughout Interior as well as Southcentral Alaska, down to the Kenai Peninsula, as well as in the Southeast and Kodiak. The department hopes to equip all troopers before the close in the calendar year.
An initial version of the draft policy was published in February to allow public input. McDaniel explained that the nine-page final policy didn’t change any significant amount, and there’s still a requirement for troopers to maintain cameras throughout their interactions in public areas, unless in certain circumstances.
“Troopers are still expected to use their body-worn cameras after they’ve been issued one.” McDaniel said, “in the same way that they do with their dash camera systems in the present, or their individual audio recorder.”
The law permits the public to have access to video footage of cameras by submitting an inquiry for records. The department responsible for public safety may release footage from crucial incidents such as trooper shootings prior to investigations being been completed.
McDaniel added that the state hopes that cameras will aid in enhancing existing police work and help build trust between the community and police.
“We believe that these tools will help us in our investigation,” McDaniel said. “These will ensure that our officers are safe. These will aid us in more efficient prosecutions. They will also increase the amount of transparency the public enjoys and will continue to increase the trust people have in State troopers.”
The cameras are paid by using around $3.6 millions from state funds, and approximately a million dollars in federal grants.
In the meantime, there is still no timetable of when Anchorage Police Department — the state’s biggest law enforcement agency will equip the officers in its force with body camera over two years after the voters approved the idea. The Chief of Police for the city declared that the department would move forward with the installation of cameras despite negotiations with the union of police officers are ongoing.
