Memphis police considering body cameras

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Memphis police are considering equipping their officers with body cameras. Now, the big question is cost.

The cost of outfitting all 2,000 officers will run into the millions, and then there’s the cost of video storage and software. A dashboard-mounted camera would cost $5,500, and body cameras would range from $500 to $1200 per camera.

Not all camera systems offer the same coverage, and Derrin Hope of Fleet Safety, a Memphis company, says the MPD has plenty of decisions to make concerning camera and video type. “They are doing their due diligence trying to figure out what is best for their department,” Hope said.

Hope described a camera system that is not constantly recording but would instead be triggered by fights and speeding by detecting the g-force. Other triggers include location or other types of force. At the end of the day, officers would turn in their cameras to a kiosk, where the footage would download.

As the discussions continue, Memphis leaders believe the cost of the cameras will be more than worth it. “With cell phones nowadays you are getting recorded no matter what, so they might as well have their point of view as well,” Hope said.