ROCHESTER — A majority of city residents who responded to a survey supported the use of body cameras by the Rochester Police Department.
The city council conducted the survey this past spring, with 87.7 percent of the nearly 3,000 respondents supporting the use of cameras, according to a city press release. The residents in support felt the cameras would improve resident and officer safety as well as improve relations with police through increased transparency. Residents also felt that the cameras could help solve crimes.
"The survey … provided great insight into the concerns that the community has regarding the use of body cameras," stated Rochester City Council President Loretta Scott. "It is clear that there is work to be done around the specifics of the policy, in terms of the time that a recording is kept, if and when a camera should be turned off, and who should have access to the recordings."
Community feedback also will be sought as the council moves into developing a policy for the use of body cameras. For information on a public hearing date, visit cityofrochester.gov.
