Body cameras in use by campus police
The new body cameras are worn at chest level and are activated during initiated interactions with the public. (Photo by Paula Burch-Celentano)
Shortly after Jon Barnwell took the reins as superintendent of the Tulane University Police Department in January 2012, he began work on the process of implementing the use of body cameras on patrol officers.
The decision to move ahead came after much thought, discussion and research on the value of using body cameras on a college campus.
“We are one of the first universities to begin using body cameras, and we"ve already had other universities and city police departments asking for copies of our policy governing their use,” says Barnwell.
A soft rollout of body-camera use was initiated in February, when TUPD officers assisted the New Orleans Police Department with patrols during Mardi Gras parades.
Barnwell expects full implementation by the end of March, which will require patrol officers on both the uptown and downtown campuses to wear body cameras.
Following a year in the “research stage,” Barnwell decided to purchase Digital Ally cameras for use on Tulane campuses. This brand, he said, was clear, easy to use, durable and tamper-resistant. The units also interact with the dashboard cameras in TUPD patrol cars.
While it"s nice to smile when an officer walks by, know that you are not on camera. Barnwell said the cameras are only activated when officers are responding to calls and during initiated interaction with the general public.
“The goal is to have the cameras provide another layer of transparency and policy adherence in relation to quality control in delivering police services,” said Barnwell.
The decision to move ahead came after much thought, discussion and research on the value of using body cameras on a college campus.
“We are one of the first universities to begin using body cameras, and we"ve already had other universities and city police departments asking for copies of our policy governing their use,” says Barnwell.
A soft rollout of body-camera use was initiated in February, when TUPD officers assisted the New Orleans Police Department with patrols during Mardi Gras parades.
Barnwell expects full implementation by the end of March, which will require patrol officers on both the uptown and downtown campuses to wear body cameras.
Following a year in the “research stage,” Barnwell decided to purchase Digital Ally cameras for use on Tulane campuses. This brand, he said, was clear, easy to use, durable and tamper-resistant. The units also interact with the dashboard cameras in TUPD patrol cars.
While it"s nice to smile when an officer walks by, know that you are not on camera. Barnwell said the cameras are only activated when officers are responding to calls and during initiated interaction with the general public.
“The goal is to have the cameras provide another layer of transparency and policy adherence in relation to quality control in delivering police services,” said Barnwell.
“The goal is to have the cameras provide another layer of transparency and policy adherence in relation to quality control in delivering police services.”—Jon Barnwell, TUPD superintendent
