GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Body cameras are coming to the Green Bay Police Department, after a unanimous vote Tuesday night from the city council.
The Green Bay Police Department has been looking at body cameras for years, but cost has always been the main barrier.
Now, the Green Bay Packers are stepping up to push the longtime wish of many past the goal line.
“We’re 1 of 32 cities across the country that have an NFL team and have an NFL team that is willing to really step up and financially support a community initiative, one that they pushed for, but second of all that our community is requesting,” said Jesse Brunette, Green Bay’s city council president.
A 5-year $2.7 million contract with Axon will get the police department body cameras, new tasers, and squad car cameras.
The Packers are chipping in $757,389. It leaves the city to cover the cost of the new tasers in year 1 of the deal, which is about $21,000.
The $1.9 million dollars over the following four years is also the city’s responsibility. Currently, the city is planning to bond for the expense.
“My fear is if you start bonding for something that is an annual expense, you will never retire the debt,” said Brian Johnson, a Green Bay alderperson.
While council members agreed they want to find a way to put the annual cost of the cameras in the city budget, members of the public who spoke at the meeting say they’re more concerned with how officers use the new equipment.
“This oversight should be prioritized in order to gain public trust, encourage transparency and provide for additional police accountability, which is really what we’ve all out in the streets been asking for this entire summer,” said Abigail Ringel, a Green Bay resident.
“Many, many agencies including Appleton, Oshkosh, Chicago, and LA have body camera policies and we’re going to take the best of those and we’re going to implement that so those cameras are on all the time,” said Chief Andrew Smith of the Green Bay Police Department. “There will be consequences for officers who don’t put those cameras on when they’re supposed to be on.”
Smith has said the cameras could be ready for use as early as February.
The Packers have a contract with Axon, which is providing the city an additional $169,000 in savings.
The Packers have said they also plan to help pay for body cameras for the Brown County Sheriff’s Department and the Ashwaubenon Public Safety Department.
The Packers are planning to hold a virtual news conference today about the contribution to Green Bay.
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