IUPUI and IU Bloomington officers to wear body cameras

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – More police departments in central Indiana are signing up for body cameras.

This time, the campuses of IUPUI and IU Bloomington are adding the cameras.

The university system announced nearly a year and half ago that it would study the issue, and now with advances in technology they say they’re ready to go.

“It’s always nice to be safe and secure especially on our campus,” said Anna Patarino, a student at IUPUI.

She and other students said their safety is a constant worry.

“Indy has gotten so dangerous recently and I think police should have documentation of what goes on,” said Ashley Eggert, another student.

Over 150 IUPD officers in Indianapolis and Bloomington will be the first to use the cameras. The cameras will then be placed at the school’s other campuses.

“We just think it’s another tool,” said Bob True, the interim superintendent of public safety at IUPUI. “It’s not going to fix police-community relations, but it’s another piece that we can use to help with transparency.

True points to recent high-profile incidents in Baltimore, MD and Ferguson, MO for reasons to use body cameras.

The university had focus groups at three campuses.

“What we found was that people felt relations with IUPD was good, but this again could be another tool to foster that transparency of our day-to-day operations,” said True.

Campus police cars have had cameras since the 1990’s.

They haven’t decided what type of cameras officers will be wearing, whether they’ll be worn on the head, or if they’ll be cell phones like the ones Lawrence police are now using.

The university is now in the process of finding a vendor for the cameras and storage. They hope to have the officers equipped by the end of the year.