CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — The Clarksburg City Council would like to outfit officers of the Clarksburg Police Department with body cameras, voting unanimously to apply for a grant providing $13,000 to the CPD.
It’s uncertain exactly how many cameras the CPD will be able to purchase, but they anticipate being able to outfit at least half of their officers if they receive the grant.
“We’ll be able to provide more than half of the Department, for sure, with body cameras,” said Deputy Chief of Police James Chamberlain.
It’s a trend growing throughout the state and around the nation. The Morgantown Police Department has already adopted the use of body cameras. The Buckhannon Police Department is currently going through a similar process. Chamberlain said it’s a time when local police departments are facing more scrutiny than ever, and that body cameras protect police officers and citizens.
“You know when the cameras are on, people tend to behave a lot more,” he said. “And that’s going to work both ways. That’s going to work for the people we deal with, and also the officers will be on their best behavior too.”
Early research indicates that the use of body cameras reduces use-of-force incidents and complaints by more than 50 percent, but the researchers have admitted that their studies have not yet provided a definitive conclusion.
“It could cut back on officer complaints,” said Chief Deputy Chamberlain. “It will either validate someone’s complaint or it could exonerate an officer from an unjust complaint.”
He encouraged anyone who wanted to review the application for the grant to come to the City Clerk’s office between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. during the week.