Clarksville Police Dept continues to equip officers with body-worn cameras

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – The Clarksville Police Department (CPD) has provided body-worn cameras to a total of 120 officers as of Dec. 13, 2018.

The cameras are being fielded incrementally to test the efficiency of the program, with the ultimate goal of equipping all sworn officers with the cameras. CPD spokesman Jim Knoll said the department currently has 226 cameras and plans to apply for another grant in the future to purchase more.

“The fielding of the body-worn cameras is progressing smoothly and on schedule,” Knoll said.

The first cameras were given to officers on Oct. 29. These officers were considered “super users” who were handpicked to run the initial test of the equipment. Since then, patrol officers who were already trained on body-worn camera departmental policy received additional training from the “super users” on the hardware and software.

In mid-November, more cameras were fielded for one of the policing district patrol shifts. The most recent round was fielded Dec. 13 to another policing district patrol shift and the traffic unit. The next round is scheduled for January 2019.

In the fall of 2017, the City of Clarksville was awarded a $337,500 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, with an equal match approved by the Clarksville City Council, to begin equipping Clarksville Police Department officers with the cameras.

CPD’s body-worn camera policy was developed with input from the community, revised and updated several times and approved by the U.S. Department of Justice.

This policy is a “living document” that will continue to evolve and be changed as needed, according to city spokesperson Richard Stevens. Body-worn camera policy training has been completed for every sworn officer on the Clarksville Police Department.

“We not only welcome, but solicit the public’s comments,” Clarksville Police Chief Ansley said.