This January, north of 300 new laws will take effect in Illinois. Over the past years, one law that has slowly been put in place is for police officers to utilize body cameras. Within the next two years Monmouth Police Chief Joe Switzer informs the departments time will come where all officers will wear body cameras:
“That will be something that will be good for us and for the community and we will get there eventually. A community our size, they do it by population on the time of when you are supposed to have body cameras, and we are farther down the line than a lot of places, but that will be happening within the next couple of years. Every officer including myself, I believe, will have to have a body camera and anytime we are doing anything law enforcement related, that body camera will be on. It protects the community. It protects us. It won’t change anything that we do other than it provides protection for the community and the officers.”
The implement of body cameras in police departments is an unfunded state mandate, although Chief Switzer says grants are available for assistance.
**Written by WMOI/WRAM Director of Communications Kelsey Crain**
