Rapid City Police Could Be Armed with Body Cams by next Summer

If green-lighted, two Rapid City area law enforcement agencies will be getting outfitted with a new piece of gear by the summer of 2018.

The new piece of equipment isn't a patrol car, a new sidearm, or an updated Kevlar vest. No, it's nothing like that, last week, the Rapid City Police Department and the Pennington County Sheriff's Department applied for a U.S. Department of Justice grant that would help pay for state of the art video body cameras.

If approved, the grant will help cover the cost up to $400,000 of the $800,000 expense to help secure the video recording tools.

KDLT TV is reporting the grant would include purchasing cameras and storage equipment.

The Rapid City Police Department is just slightly behind the curve when it comes to "body cams" according to Rapid City Police Chief Karl Jegeris.

Supporters of the body cam video recording devices say they help prosecutors gain convictions and also can reduce the chance for lawsuits against police.

Both agencies should receive definitive word on whether they were approved for the grant by late summer or early fall of this year.

Source: KDLT TV

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