Galesburg Reporter

Galesburg police officers on patrol are now wearing body cameras. This is the first time that officers on the Galesburg Police Department have had body cameras. 

A a news release from the Galesburg Police Department last week announced the technology update for officers. It said that officers assigned to patrol duties have been given the equipment and will be wearing the cameras while on the job. The program includes both body-worn cameras and cameras in police cruisers. 

The goal of the body camera program is to develop and build trust between the community and the men and woman who protect and serve, Galesburg Police Chef Russell Idle said in the release.

Police Cruisers will also be equipped with camera's | Stock Photo

Galesburg's body camera program will comply with the legal requirements set by Illinois to have the technology. It includes a 30-second pre-record feature that allows the camera to record a half a minute prior to the camera being activated. They also have to be used throughout the entirety of any law enforcement function, and can't be turned off.

The courts can use the videos taken off officers as evidence to prosecute offenses it captures.  The cameras is even more beneficial in that it can also be used to record accounts given by both witnesses and aspects. 

Recordings can also be used to review and either verify or disprove a complaint raised by someone about a police officer. The release says the cameras can either clear an officer of a false accusation or put a spotlight on the behavior of an officer that needs to be addressed. 

The Register Mail reported police administration would look at the video recorded from both the body and cruiser cameras to review police standards and use for training. Idle made note that the although the new cameras would be helpful, it won't be a solution to every problem.

"Sometimes the footage obtained is unclear, or relevant facts occur off-camera," he said in the release according to the Register Mail. 

Idle stated it's important for both the public and police to have "reasonable expectations" from the body camera program. In addition to the cameras, new cruisers were brought into service during the fourth quarter of the year.