ELY — The police department here is taking the first steps toward implementing body-worn cameras, with Police Chief Chad Houde announcing plans to begin a formal public review process this fall.
At Tuesday’s city council meeting, Houde outlined the department’s timeline for adopting the recording technology, citing increased demand for transparency and accountability in policing.
“In this day and age, with everything that’s going on, I think the time is now,” Houde told councilors, noting that the department currently operates without body cameras or squad car cameras, an increasingly uncommon practice among law enforcement agencies.
The chief, who has served with the department for 20 years, acknowledged that while his officers are trustworthy, there are times when additional documentation of police interactions would be beneficial for both the public and the department.
“There are times you get people that are concerned, whether it’s just more transparency of the call. Maybe they perceive that one way, we perceive it another,” Houde said.
The implementation process is governed by a Minnesota state statute It requires law enforcement agencies to provide public comment opportunities before purchasing portable recording systems. According to a press release issued by the department, the written policy draft will be available for public review starting Sept. 2, and comments will be accepted until Oct. 2.
The public will be able to submit comments via email to elypd@ely.mn.us or by mail to the Ely Police Department at 209 E. Chapman Street, Ely, MN 55731. Comments should reference “Body Worn Camera Comments” in the subject line.
The city council will also hold a public hearing, currently slated for 5 p.m. on Oct. 7 in the council chambers at city hall. The draft policy will also be available for review on the city’s website at https://www.ely.mn.us/police.
Houde emphasized that the current council discussion was merely to approve beginning the process, not to make any purchasing decisions. He indicated that after the public comment period closes and the hearing is held, the council would then consider budget implications and potential vendors before making a final decision on implementation.
Minutes from a July 21 budget committee meeting indicate the department has received a bid from Axon to provide body cam equipment. The bid for five years of service came back at $37,738.60, or $7,547.72 per year.