Arlington police to make pitch for body camera funding

Police officials will make a pitch to the City Council on Tuesday to include $2.9 million in next year’s budget for 350 police body cameras and video storage equipment.

The program will require $2.2 million annually in subsequent years for maintenance and personnel, according to a presentation set for the afternoon meeting.

The department conducted a $50,000 pilot program last year that allowed police to try out various types of cameras and equipment. It came as many police departments around the country were responding to the public backlash over controversial police shootings of mostly unarmed black men in past two years, galvanizing the Black Lives Matter movement.

The Arlington department came under national scrutiny after a rookie officer fatally shot an unarmed college student while officers were responding to a burglary call at a car dealership. There were no security cameras in the showroom where the shooting occurred.

Body cameras are widely seen as protection for both police and the public.

Arlington’s larger neighbors are well into their own camera initiatives. Fort Worth had purchased about 600 body cameras by late last year and in December approved funds to buy 1,200 more, enough to outfit all officers. Dallas last year approved a $3.7 million program to buy 1,000 body cameras over five years.

The Arlington council’s afternoon work session starts about 2 p.m., followed by the regular session at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 101 W. Abram St.

This story was originally published May 9, 2016 at 7:07 PM with the headline "Arlington police to make pitch for body camera funding."