Chillicothe Police Officers will soon be sporting new body cameras. The City of Chillicothe has been awarded nearly $29-thousand to purchase new officer body cameras and provide cloud storage for video footage.
In a release Tuesday, February 14th, Chillicothe Mayor Luke Feeney said the city is always looking for ways to enhance the safety of its officers and the public they serve.
"We are always looking for ways to enhance the safety of our officers and the public, so when we saw the body camera grant opportunity come along it was a natural fit for us to pursue. We look for every opportunity to keep our officers and the public safe, and body cameras are an essential tool in modern-day community safety," said Feeney. “Although Ohio law doesn't require body cameras, I believe they are a smart investment for the Chillicothe Police Department and community as a whole.”
The awarded $28,832 will be used to lease 35 cameras to replace the police department’s existing cameras which are at the end of their life.
All local patrol officers are currently equipped with body cameras including those who patrol, provide traffic enforcement, and serve as resource officers.
“Ensuring we have functional and operating cameras is critical to our operations for evidence collection, training, and for after-action reports,” said Chief Ron Meyers. “A solid body camera program is vital to maintain our trust and commitment to transparency with the public and our employees.”
The City of Chillicothe is currently seeking qualified applicants to apply for Police Officer positions with the Chillicothe Police Department. Hired individuals will be eligible for a $3,000 sign-on bonus. To learn more about the position and how to apply, visit chillicotheoh.gov.