Body cameras hit streets of the Strawberry City
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HUMBOLDT, Tenn. — Police on patrol in the city of Humboldt are sporting some new gear — body cameras. The Humboldt Police Department began testing the new body cameras earlier this week, but on Monday they will go into full effect. The force will have 26 body cameras, one for every officer going with them everywhere they go. “In my eyes this is going to make you a better officer in the public’s eye,” said Sgt. Heath Smith with the Humboldt Police Department. They’re designed to record everything, good and bad, to hold officers and the public to a higher standard. “People do tend to act differently when they know they’re on camera,” Humboldt Police Chief Rob Ellis said. “They watch what they do and what they say.” Every time an officer gets out of their patrol car on a traffic stop they’ll hit record on a remote, and the camera will then follow their every move — as well as yours. “I’ve already used it twice,” Sgt. Smith said. “Even when we picked someone up on an arrest.” During every one of those calls officers said the camera allows the real story to be told. “We’re able to review the footage and come back and say well now this did happen or this did not happen,” Smith said. “So that’s the big thing, and it’s going to keep you on your toes.” As the cameras and officers hit the streets, they hope it adds that extra accountability. “We’re trying to serve our community,” Chief Ellis said. “On the same token, I expect the community to treat our officers with the dignity and respect that we’re going to show them.” The department said the cameras and hard drive to store the footage cost a little more than $9,000 but that no tax dollars were used. $1,000 was donated by the Humboldt Lion’s Club, and the rest was covered by the city’s drug fund. Humboldt joins Milan, Trenton, Rutherford and Bradford in using body cameras.
