Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Policing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Wendell police outline body‑worn camera program, say public release requires court order
Summary
Wendell Police Chief John Slaughter told the Town Board the department has selected Axon body cameras, secured grant funding, and drafted a policy covering use, maintenance, review and evidence handling. He said state law and court process limit public release of footage, and supervisors will conduct quarterly reviews of recordings.
Wendell — The Wendell Police Department presented its planned body‑worn camera program to the Town Board on Monday, detailing equipment, policy, training and a timeline for deployment. Chief John Slaughter said the department selected Axon cameras after testing several models and has grant funding to help cover costs.
The chief said the cameras will complement existing in‑car cameras and fill gaps where vehicle cameras do not capture events, for example during residential calls or interactions away from patrol cars. “It’s become the new normal in policing now,” Slaughter said, adding body cameras can aid investigations, training and courtroom evidence.
Staff and policy highlights
Slaughter summarized the department’s policy framework and operational expectations: officers will test body cameras at shift start, keep cameras recording until they have “completely finished the situation” and download footage wirelessly through in‑car MiFi or by docking at the station for long events. Supervisors will perform quarterly substantive reviews — three in‑car and three body camera recordings per quarter — to identify training needs and commendations.
The policy allows officer review of their own footage; supervisors will have broader access for oversight. The department’s records and evidence manager will handle submitting footage for court. Slaughter also said the department is reviewing options to transition in‑car cameras to Axon so the body and in‑car systems integrate and so that an officer’s taser activation can trigger recordings across devices.
Public access and legal limits
During board questions, a commissioner asked how members of the public could obtain body‑worn footage. Slaughter said state law governs disclosure. “No one can just come in and just look at the body camera. You have to actually go through a judge and get a court order,” he said, explaining that attorneys, parties to a case or family members in certain circumstances could view footage following the court or subpoena process. He added an exception exists for “high‑profile” incidents where, after consultation with the town manager and the courts, the department might release video in the community’s interest.
Training, data handling and next steps
Slaughter said officers will receive training on the policy and operation of the cameras and sign an acknowledgment before deployment. The department will wirelessly offload footage during shifts and maintain spare devices for repairs. The chief described potential future uses of automated transcription and AI tools that may shorten report writing but said those features are still under review.
The board did not take a formal vote on the program at the meeting; Slaughter said the policy would be finalized and that the department would brief the board when deployment and training are complete.
Why this matters
Police body cameras change evidence availability in investigations and trials, and they affect privacy and transparency. The department’s plan addresses equipment, storage and supervisor review while the town and legal system will determine how and when footage can be released beyond routine subpoena or court order processes.
What’s next
Chief Slaughter said the department will finalize the written policy, train officers and then begin issuing cameras once training is complete. He asked the board for continued support to implement the program.
