W’burg Police now wearing body cameras

The Williamsburg Police Department is adding a new piece of equipment for its officers, body cameras.

eputy Chief Jason Caddell, Investigations Lieutenant Bobby Freeman and Lieutenant Jim Pool pose with their new body cams.

Williamsburg police have utilized in-car dash cams and body microphones since 2012, and isn’t new to transparency within the department, the police department noted in a release.

The Williamsburg City Council approved the $47,956 purchase of the 18 cameras plus a server during its March meeting.

Williamsburg Police Chief Wayne Bird noted during the March meeting that three officers had already been wearing the body cameras as part of a test program.

Mayor Roddy Harrison added during the March meeting that the department already had a policy in place for

The WATCH GUARD body cameras at the officers charging station.

body cameras.

Each officer has now been issued a high quality body camera, and have been wearing the body cameras since June 28.

The use of these cameras has numerous benefits, such as creating useful evidence that is suitable for prosecution and many legal proceedings, the release noted.

“Body cameras protect both our citizens and our officers and gives a much broader accountability of on scene actions and activities,” Williamsburg police wrote in the release.

Over the past few years, the police department’s older in-car dash cameras and body mics encountered problems, and the cost to provide regular maintenance slowly increased prompting police administrators to change to a more efficient and less costly system.

“Chief Wayne Bird and Williamsburg Police Department officers appreciate WATCH GUARD’s help in making a smooth transition into a much needed upgrade,” the release stated.