INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) recently announced the signing of a contract with Utility to begin outfitting officers with body worn cameras. The contract outlines the equipping of 1,100 officers who respond to 911 calls with body worn technology. Rollout is slated to begin in the coming weeks. The signing of the contract follows a second, stakeholder-driven pilot of body worn camera technology on IMPD, as well as an investment of $1.2 million dedicated in the City-County Budget to fund this program by Mayor Joe Hogsett and the City-County Council, announced last year.
The 1,100 officers being outfitted with body worn cameras in this initial rollout are those that respond to 911 calls, including beat officers, street supervisors, and special units. Installation of the technology will begin in the coming weeks with officers on IMPD’s East District, the busiest district in the city, with a goal of equipping 10 officers per day.
The 5.5-year, $9.2 million contract will equip 1,100 officers with Utility body worn camera technology. The contract covers the costs of leasing the technology, installation of the equipment, upgrades to the technology after three years, maintenance and local support to address any technology issues, and cloud-based video storage. This technology allows for the decentralized uploading of footage as well as automated recording triggers that will turn the cameras on in certain situations, including:
• Being within 500 feet of a dispatched run
• Drawing the gun from its holster
• Beginning to run
• Lying flat for 10 seconds
• Violently shaking, such as during a fight
• Activating lights and/or sirens in the car
• Unlocking the shotgun rack