Willoughby Hills Police Department reports body cams have arrived

Marah Morrison, The News-Herald, Willoughby, Ohio
·2 min read

Jun. 4—The Willoughby Hills Police Department's body-worn cameras have recently arrived and the department is now in the process of installing the necessary hardware both in the station and in the vehicles to make the system operational.

According to Mayor Andy Gardner, the police department will start training in June out on the road and through the body-worn cameras' manufacturer.

The cameras have been viewed as a way to address the ongoing challenges in maintaining the public's perception of law enforcement not only at a local level, but throughout the country, as well as improve a department's practices, Police Chief Matthew Naegele previously told The News-Herald.

"The technology offers real time information when used by officers on patrol or other assignments, and brings them into contact with members of the community," Naegele said. "In many communities throughout the country, there's a lack of trust in law enforcement. We're fortunate here in Willoughby Hills that it does not exist."

The department has garnered support from not only residents, but members of city leadership, Naegele said, but that does not mean the department still shouldn't have a system and a technology in place that doesn't continue to garner that.

"The calls we field at the police department from not only the Prosecutor's Office, but defense attorneys — the first question that's asked anymore on every major case that we get is, 'Where's your body camera?' " Naegele said. "It's only a matter of time that it becomes a mandate for police departments throughout Ohio and the country to support programs like this."

During a Finance Committee meeting earlier this year, Gardner asked that $2,500 be added to the police department's budget. Gardner predicts that there won't be anyone who disagrees with officers having body cams on them, which have been a year in the making, he said.

"We've gone through a full year of trials of the different products and we have a good policy in place," Gardner said.