Bike patrol officers to be kitted out with cameras

  • 2016-02-25
San Antonio police officers who patrol their beats on bicycles will be the first on the force to get body cameras.

The bike patrol will be up and running by the end of February. William McManus, the city's police chief, said the cameras cost about $1,500 each, and the department plans to equip all of its approximately 2,300 officers with them. Chief McManus will be one of the officers wearing a camera.

McManus says he is no different to any other officer, noting that if he or anyone on his command staff became involved in an incident on the street, they would need to be able to show the situation as it actually unfolded. McManus added that using the cameras can help the public regain their trust in police, who have been under intense scrutiny by communities across the country after incidents involving deadly force.

He concluded by saying that the dynamics of policing the streets have changed, which makes it vital that interactions between police and citizens be accurately documented. He believes that having the cameras in place is likely to change behaviors from both police and citizens.

McManus and other officials could work with a postcard printing company to create a card to mail to residents, explaining the new policy and how it will make the city safer.