Savannah Police Request Body Cameras

The Savannah-Chatham police department is looking to outfit patrol officers with body-mounted video cameras. The move comes amid an investigation into the fatal police shooting of a man last month.

The department is requesting cameras that would mount at the officer’s eye level and record audio and video of interactions with the public.

Police training director Gary Taylor says the footage would help with investigations involving complaints against officers. “To have this type of data, this type of footage to help substantiate the action that they take or don’t take in a situation like this, we can’t put a price tag," he says. "It’s not measurable.”

Taylor says investigations now rely on testimony and police reports that members of the public don’t always trust. “They’re not necessarily always going to believe what we say and what we write," he says, "but with these cameras, they’re actually going to get to see exactly and experience exactly what the officer experienced.”

Taylor and City Spokesman Bret Bell say this move has been in the works for months. But Bell says last month's shooting "put a fine point on why" the cameras would help.

The City Council must approve the purchase of the cameras. Council will take up the proposal next week.

Tags: police, scmpd, shooting, Police Shooting, fatal shooting, investigation, body cameras, body mounted cameras