Mayor Joseph P. Ganim
Bridgeport, CT
Chief of Police
Armando J. Perez
For Immediate Release
February 21, 2018
For More Information:
Dalmarys Matos
(203) 576-7201
Dalmarys.matos@bridgeportct.gov
Press Release
Bridgeport Police Department Begins Pilot Program for Body Cams
BRIDGEPORT, CT – In order to protect the community with the utmost transparency, the Bridgeport Police Department has rolled out its pilot program for body cameras and car cameras. This program, which began on February 1, 2018 and will continue until the end of April, will have officers in the field testing out two different brands of cameras to decide which will be the best option for the department and the Bridgeport community as a whole.
Body cameras are an easy and effective way to guarantee accountability and to encourage a feeling of security when officers and citizens interact. When officers are making traffic stops or responding to calls, they will be required to turn on their cameras for the duration of the interaction. Officers will be able to view the footage when writing their reports which will ensure accuracy.
“These devices are an effective way that we can both improve safety and reduce the number of physical altercations between officers and citizens. All parties involved are more likely to feel at ease when they know a body cam is recording an interaction,” said Police Chief Armando Perez. “The intent is to have consistency and to be as transparent as possible with the public.”
As a part of the first phase of testing, officers on the day shift will be wearing a body camera made by Axon and midnight shift officers will be wearing G-Tech cameras. In March, the shifts will switch which brand that they are testing. After the pilot program is complete, the department will make a final decision on which one they think best fits Bridgeport’s needs.
“We have been focusing on making Bridgeport the safest place it can be and this is just another extension of that,” said Mayor Ganim. “With so many communities finding success in body camera programs, it was only logical for us to find a way to integrate them as well. It has been made much easier by the generous funding that we have received from state and federal grants which mean there will be no extra financial burden placed on the Bridgeport tax payers.”
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