MARSHFIELD, WI (WSAU) — In Marshfield, officers on the city’s police force are now equipped with state-of-the-art body cameras, and assistant police chief Patrick Zeps says the cams are a great addition to the force that helps improve safety and transparency for everyone.
“We actually had started researching these several years ago and were able to budget money for this year to purchase them, and we ended up purchasing forty of them so we could equip every officer that we have with one,” Zeps said. “And we went ‘live’ with them on June 1st, so every officer is currently carrying one.”
The new body cams work in conjunction with the squad car dash cams. “The interesting part about our body cameras is that we went with the same brand that does our in-squad video, so we were able to synchronize them. Which means our body cameras actually synchronize to the squad camera and serves as the ‘out mic’ for that camera as well,” Zeps explained.
The use of body cameras has been on the increase for local police departments, largely because of incidents like those in Ferguson, Charlotte, and other locations nationally. The assistant police chief said, “The trend in law enforcement is to go to these types of devices just with the desire to be transparent to the community, and it offers us another piece, as far as what goes on on the road, and during calls.”
Most important, Zeps says, is that the new technology is meant to protect everyone, both the citizens and the law enforcement officers alike. “I think the officers like it because it tells an accurate picture. And then from the standpoint of the citizens, it’s another reflection of what they might say, and it’s an accurate account.”
Residents are encouraged to call the Marshfield Police Department between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, with any questions they may have about the new body cams.
