The Alaska Department of Public Safety has begun a phased implementation of body-worn cameras for its troopers and officers across Alaska.
Some 30 Alaska State Troopers, Wildlife Troopers, and Court Services Officers have been equipped with the latest body-worn camera technology as part of a limited deployment phase to prepare for a full roll-out later this year.
The department was awarded $3.58 million in state funding and $938,000 in federal funding in July 2022 to finance the project.
After evaluating several options, DPS chose Motorola’s V300 body-worn camera in late 2022, as it was deemed the best fit for the department’s needs. DPS aims to provide every Alaska State Trooper, Wildlife Trooper, Deputy Fire Marshal, Court Services Officer, and Village Public Safety Officer with a body-worn camera as part of the program.
Alaska Department of Public Safety Commissioner James Cockrell believes they will be an essential tool in modern-day policing, providing an asset to troopers, officers, and the public they serve. Despite a few remaining hurdles, Cockrell is confident that the department will continue to move forward.
DPS has also finalized the policy that will govern the use of body-worn cameras, dash cameras, audio recorders, and other audio and video capturing devices after receiving public feedback earlier this year.
DPS conducted a public comment period on the policy in February and received input from staff, the Public Safety Employees Association, and other stakeholders during the spring to incorporate the best suggestions and recommendations into the final version.
The final version of the policy can be found at:Â https://dps.alaska.gov/bodycam
