The East Lansing Police Department is going to install cameras in its patrol cars, in the hopes that the filmed accounts of traffic stops and other road police procedures will help officers settle discrepancies.
The $4,000 cameras will be placed in the department’s 12 patrol vehicles. Police have had one vehicle available with a camera for the past couple of years.
“It is excellent for courtroom testimony for drunk driving,” Capt. Juli Liebler said.
“It presents the most accurate information for the court and jury to see.”
The cameras will be perched in the front of the vehicles, protected by the windshield, with a small viewing screen hanging from the ceiling.
The interest to equip the police cruisers with cameras come as East Lansing officials discuss new police technology in the city’s proposed 2002-03 budget.
East Lansing City Council will discuss the budget at its work session tonight.
The city plans on spending $29.4 million next year, with much of the money going to public protection services.
The police department has been allocated $7.8 million to cover costs and improvements.
Much of the money to pay for the cameras will come from a grant the department received to help cover the costs.
Officer Rick Torres joked, while sitting in the patrol car with the camera Monday afternoon, that some of the officers are camera shy.
“I don’t mind it,” Torres said. “If something were to happen it’s all on tape. It’s about time we got them.”
The MSU Department of Police and Public Safety has had cameras in its police cars for more than a year.
Getting the technology was expensive but worth every penny, Capt. Dave Trexler said.
The department leases the cameras over a three-year period at $14,000 a year.
“It is good for the citizens, they document if the stop was a courteous one,” Trexler said.
MSU police also have used the cameras to provide evidence in several accusations against their officers.
“We can pop out the tape and see if that is what happened,” he said.
“You have seen on TV the police chases, it is an additional tool that is beneficial.”
Marketing sophomore John Lane said it’s nice to see the city’s police officers catching up with other departments.
While Lane said he has never had to deal with the department before, the cameras will be a great help to those who do.
“If there is some sort of problem when they pull someone over, if the officer harasses somebody, it is beneficial if they get out of line,” he said.
Shaun Byron can be reached at byronsha@msu.edu.
