City Selects Firm for Body Cameras

The Baltimore police department has announced that Taser International will provide body cameras to its officers.



Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and Police Commissioner Kevin Davis said at a news conference Tuesday that officers will be equipped with Taser International's Axon body cameras, one of three types of cameras that were part of a pilot program involving 155 officers from three police districts that began in October.



"One mistake can cost the taxpayers millions," said Mayor Rawlings-Blake. "There's a difference between urgency and haste, but I wanted to make sure that Baltimore did not end up with a boondoggle, wasting taxpayer money."



Davis said officers provided scores for the cameras they tested out and shared overwhelmingly positive feedback about their experiences wearing cameras.



"Everyone is waiting to see how this big police department and how we get this right," said Commissioner Kevin Davis. "So far, police officers are telling me this has been a positive to thing to have on the street."



The price proposal from Taser will be unsealed at a Board of Estimates meeting Wednesday. The exact amount that will be allocated for the program will likely be negotiated.



Rawlings-Blake said the final contract will be voted on by the end of February.