New York State Police don’t have a body camera policy.
In 2020, it’s unusual for a law enforcement entity as large as NYSP to not use body cams. Now though, as a new policy rolls out – it looks like that will be changing.
A spokesperson for state police say they will unveil a new program soon. It’s unclear how much it will cost, or how it will work out specifically – but they are moving toward the idea.
Frank Coots, a retired New York State Police commander, says once they start – it will likely never change back. And that’s a good thing, he thinks.
“I think once the State Police establishes a body-worn camera program, I don’t think it’ll ever go back to the way it was. I think that we will see the benefit of it,” Coots explained to CNYCentral. “When you can see someone doing their job in which they trained to do, and they’re doing it appropriately and doing it professionally, it goes a long ways.”
It’s all about trust. And a program like this builds it, Coots believes.
“When you can see someone doing their job in which they trained to do, and they’re doing it appropriately and doing it professionally, it goes a long ways,” he said.
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