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Smithfield announces full deployment of police body cameras; downtown planning meeting set and council to enter closed session
Summary
The police chief said body cameras are deployed to all officers and also provide phone capability. Council announced a public downtown input meeting and voted to go into closed session to discuss real property under North Carolina statute.
At a council meeting in the Town of Smithfield, the police chief said the department has deployed body-worn cameras to every officer, including reserves, and that the devices also function as phones for officers.
The police chief said the cameras are mounted and in use, provide location tracking, and offer a backup communications method if radios fail: “We are happy to announce we have our body cam[s] up and working now. Every officer has one, even our reserve officers have one… This one has an added benefit that each one of the body cameras is also a phone.” The chief said officers have embraced the technology and that the department remains under the grant budget.
During council comments, staff invited the public to a Downtown Strategic Development Committee meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in council chambers to provide input on a five-year strategic plan for downtown improvements. A staff member identified themselves as Heidi and said the meeting is open to the public and will gather constructive feedback for a strategic plan.
At the end of the meeting the council voted to enter a closed session pursuant to North Carolina General Statute 143-318.11(a)(5) to discuss matters involving real property. The council motion to go into closed session carried.
