Clayton police wearing body cameras

CLAYTON — The Police Department's long wait for body-worn cameras is over.

"We purchased the cameras back in July and the accessories that go with them," Chief Greg Tart told the Town Council last week. "Due to the supply-chain issues that are going across the country, it took a little while to get them."

But they're here now, said Tart, who championed the cameras during the council's annual planning retreat earlier this year. "We've done training, written policies, and they are fully implemented," he said.

The police department, which has 52 sworn officers, leased 45 body-worn cameras for roughly $28,000 a year for five years, the town said in an email. "The lease includes all cloud-storage costs, hardware and software, maintenance, and on-site training," the email stated. "The department has been testing body cameras since March of this year."

All patrol officers, including their supervisors, have cameras and wear them while on duty, the town said. "Officers will utilize them during every encounter where law enforcement action is taken," the email stated.

The department has several special-operations divisions, including traffic, community policing, parks and trails, and school resource officers. All of those officers have cameras and wear them while on duty, the town said.

"Detectives will wear them in potential high-risk situations such as when executing a search or serving arrest warrants," the email added.