Saint Albans swears in patrolman Mark Sanders; council hears body‑ and in‑car camera rollout plan

Saint Albans swore in Mark Sanders as a patrolman and heard from Police Chief Bass about upcoming installation and training for in‑car and body‑worn cameras, which Chief Bass said were funded through a Shelley Moore Capito grant. Chief Bass asked the council for a motion to adopt the department's operational policy and procedures required to deploy the cameras, and council members moved to consider that resolution; no recorded final vote on the resolution appears in the meeting transcript.

The swearing‑in occurred during the council's praise and recognition segment. Members led Sanders through the oath of office, and the oath text was spoken aloud as Sanders took the oath for the "police department of the city of Saint Albans, West Virginia." Chief Bass introduced Sanders and said Sanders will attend the 201st basic class at the West Virginia State Police Academy later this month, will graduate in winter, and then begin field training (FTO).

Chief Bass told the council that one in‑car camera would be installed on Aug. 12 and that body cameras would be rolled out on Aug. 13. He said additional in‑car cameras would be scheduled for installation later, likely in September, and that training on the devices would occur this month. Chief Bass said the cameras were paid for through a Shelley Moore Capito grant.

Chief Bass also asked the council for a motion to adopt the Saint Albans Police Department operational policy and procedures regarding body‑worn and in‑car cameras; a motion and a second were requested on the floor. The meeting transcript records the request for a motion and the motion being made but does not record a final roll‑call vote adopting the resolution. The council also used the praise and recognition slot to acknowledge Lieutenant Sheila Finson's birthday.

The council did not take further documented action on the camera policy during the parts of the meeting captured in the transcript. Council members and staff indicated training and equipment installation dates will proceed once the policy and equipment are in place.

Details from the meeting: Chief Bass said the in‑car camera installation would begin Aug. 12 and body cameras would be rolled out Aug. 13; additional in‑car units would follow thereafter, and training would occur this month. Sanders was sworn in and introduced to the council; Chief Bass said Sanders will attend the West Virginia State Police Academy basic class and later graduate and begin FTO. The oath spoken mentioned the "codified ordinances of the city of Saint Albans."