Mayor Ben Walsh Announces Body-Worn Cameras for All Syracuse Police Officers

Yaw Bonsu, SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh announced that the city’s police department has successfully acquired 220 body-worn cameras for all uniformed officers. This comes after Syracuse Police Reform Executive Order No. 1 was enacted last June.

The department has also updated the policy for the body-worn cameras in hopes of feedback from the community. This updated draft applies to all uniformed officers and notes how the camera operates as well as when officers can activate/deactivate recordings. 

“When I became mayor, SPD had only 16 test model body-worn cameras available for use by all uniformed officers,” said Mayor Walsh in a press release. “The progress SPD has made from then to now is an important step forward and will serve as an additional way to keep both the officers and the community safe.”

11 patrol sergeants will be equipped with the new camera with the remaining 14 to be in the future. Each officer’s camera is linked specifically to them with the ability to easily find time-stamped recordings. The Syracuse Police Department has worked with the Onondaga Computer Aided Dispatch to make this possible.

“Since the rollout, both the public and police officers have overwhelmingly supported the use of body-worn cameras,” Police Chief Buckner said in a press release. “I commend our officers and the many others in the department who have supported the implementation.”

Comments about the policy can be made at this link:  policereform.ongov.net/public-comment/.​