Bowling Green Police Department Capt. Charles Casey holds the actual camera that the lens adapter is attached to Friday, Dec. 2, 2016, at the Bowling Green Police Department. (Miranda Pederson/photo@bgdailynews.com)

The Bowling Green Police Department is outfitting its patrol officers who drive cars with body cameras, a move that will allow the public a closer look into policing and the situations officers encounter on the job. 

“There’s a real value in the transparency,” said Lt. Col. Kevin Wiles, an officer with the department who’s managing the project. 

Bowling Green City Commissioners voted in September to approve $75,170 for 95 body cameras for the department. Another $73,221 will be used for video storage of the recordings, and $65,625 will be used for a use of force simulator for training officers and educating the public. 

Wiles said the department’s had body cameras in a limited capacity for some officers, such as its canine unit officers. That experience helped convince department officials to more fully incorporate body cameras, Wiles said. 

“With the national interest and I guess the interest in transparency, it just made a lot of sense for us to outfit all of our first responders,” Wiles said, adding all officers with cars should have them by the end of the month. 

The cameras likely wouldn’t be immediately noticeable by Bowling Green residents stopped by police. A typical camera sits over an officer’s collarbone about two inches away from the top button of a police uniform. There is no blinking light to signal that the camera is recording, but it does emit tones to let the officer know they’ve turned it on. It can pick up infrared light to track people by body temperature at night. 

For now, the cameras don’t have an automatic trigger, meaning officers must decide when to start filming. 

“For each officer, they’re (going to) have to turn the camera on at a safe time,” Wiles said. There isn’t a mandated time officers have to turn it on. 

While Wiles said cameras can influence behavior, he doesn’t see it dramatically changing an officers’ conduct because he’s confident they’re already doing good work. 

“I believe that this technology is (going to) capture them doing the right thing everyday,” he said. “If we do make a mistake … certainly this will help hold them in check and remind them that there’s going to be video evidence of their actions, good or bad.” 

The camera equipment was purchased from Coban Technologies, which is the same company the department uses for its in-car cameras. 

Officers will be able to download body camera video directly to video storage in their patrol cars and the video imagery will be uploaded wirelessly to police headquarters. The department saved money on the cameras by waiting for the technology to develop more. Bowling Green Police Chief Doug Hawkins said the lower prices saved the city about $40,000 in hardware costs.

Recorded video will be stored for at least 60 days, but could be kept longer if it makes for really valuable evidence. 

The video and audio recordings are public record, a prospect that has presented some challenge for the department. During a presentation to the media and city officials, there was a demonstration of how precisely video can be blurred or audio omitted to protect privacy rights. For example, when officers make home visits, the interior of the house will be blurred to hide potentially valuable possessions that could entice criminals to rob the house. 

The cameras also allow the public a closer look at the most critical and dangerous moments for police officers and civilians, such as foot pursuits by officers. 

City Commissioner Sue Parrigin said the technology won’t be a silver bullet for all policing problems, but it will offer clarity when actions from officers or civilians are questioned. 

“I think it’s a great tool, and I think it’s a resource that we’re going to be relying on well into the future,” she said after sitting through a demonstration. “I’m particularly pleased with this.” 

Warren County Commonwealth’s Attorney Chris Cohron also appreciates the new cameras. 

“I think it’s going to be an excellent fact-collecting tool for law enforcement,” he said at the demonstration. Cohron was also impressed with the department’s ability to protect the privacy of uninvolved parties through audio and video redaction. 

— Follow education reporter Aaron Mudd on Twitter @BGDN_edbeat or visit bgdailynews.com.