Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano, Minority Leader Kevan Abrahams, Police Commissioner Thomas C. Krumpter and other elected officials recently announced a pilot program that will equip a number of Nassau County police officers with body cameras in an effort to increase transparency during interactions with the public. As part of the program, a total of 62 cameras will be assigned to 31 officers from the First, Third, and Fifth Precincts, which includes the communities of New Cassel and Westbury.
“Crime is down 25 percent since I took office in 2010,” said Mangano. “Crime is at the lowest levels since statistics were first recorded and Nassau is the safest large suburban county in America. This success is directly attributable to our officers, intelligence-led policing models and strategic communication. Advancements in technology have also made it possible for police officers to receive and input valuable intelligence through the computers in their patrol vehicles, effectively turning these patrol vehicles into mobile police precincts. This body camera pilot program seeks to expand upon our efforts by using the latest technology to increase transparency during interactions with the public, strengthen officer performance by using footage for training and improve evidence documentation for investigations and prosecution.”
The Nassau County Police Department (NCPD) will select three camera models and assign each model to participating officers to test for three months at a time as the department evaluates the best technology for its officers.
The cost of the pilot program, which will begin on Aug. 1, is estimated to be $150,000 and will be paid for through county operational funds. Upon its completion, the NCPD will provide final recommendations to the County Executive and County Legislature based on their experience with the pilot program.
“Utilizing technology to capture interactions between police officers and residents will serve to de-escalate emotionally charged situations,” said Legislator Siela Bynoe. “I am very happy that Nassau County is taking the steps necessary to provide increased safety for our residents and our hard working police officers. This is a win-win situation.”
“The Nassau County Police Department is committed to exploring the latest technology in order to continue to keep Nassau one of the safest communities in the country,” said Acting Commissioner Krumpter. “This pilot program will benefit members of the community and as well as our officers.”
In creating the program, the NCPD collaborated with the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) and law-enforcement agencies across the country that already have body-camera programs in place.
