Courtesy Photo: A photo of ELPD Officer Scott Klavenski wearing one of ELPD's new body worn cameras.
The East Lansing Police Department has implemented body worn cameras for its patrol operations, according to an ELPD press release.
On Wednesday, Dec. 2, East Lansing Police Department trained the first group of officers on the use and policy for the body worn cameras. Beginning today, the cameras will be issued to day and night shift patrol officers for use in the field.
East Lansing Police Department has the current storage capacity to keep all videos for 60 days — videos that are tagged for evidence purposes or other reasons will be kept for several years.
“The body cameras add another level of transparency and protection for the public and our officers,” East Lansing Interim Police Chief Jeff Murphy said in the press release.
“We also felt it was important to have these cameras implemented and in the field this weekend for any issues that may arise in conjunction with the Big Ten Championship football game.”
The remaining officers will be trained on the use and policy of the cameras at in-service training in January and February 2016.
In 2014, MSU students protested police violence and presented a list of demands to ELPD in response to the killing of Michael Brown by a police officer in Ferguson, Mo. The list included implementing body cameras in order to better hold officers accountable.
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