Behind the Badge
Fullerton Police could be the second law enforcement agency in the county to equip its officers with body cameras if the City Council tonight approves a proposal by Police Chief Dan Hughes to buy the devices for his officers.
Hughes, who described the cameras as being about the size of an iPhone, said he will ask the council for $650,000 to buy 140 cameras from Taser International.
The initial funds for purchase and the maintenance for the cameras comes from the department’s asset-seizure account.
The cameras will replace the audio recorders officers currently use.
“We believe the cameras will further increase transparency and accountability,” Hughes said. “We want to invest in tools and technologies that help us better serve residents of Fullerton, and these cameras will help us do that.”
If Fullerton’s cameras are approved, the department will join Anaheim Police Department, who just last week approved the purchase of $1.5 million worth of body cameras.
