The NEOMED Police Department was recently awarded a Department of Justice grant for the purchase and implementation of Body-Worn Cameras (BWCs). It is our goal to utilize these BWCs to better serve the NEOMED community. The implementation of a BWC system allows us to serve in the most professional manner possible. The cameras will allow us to better evaluate our response to critical incidents while allowing the opportunity to review incidents to determine what, if any, training may be needed or recommended to meet our community’s expectations. Additionally, video documentation of incidents and our interactions with citizens protects the integrity of our officers and this institution from unjustified or fabricated complaints. While incidents and complaints of crime are very low, if enforcement action is required, these BWCs will provide often requested and sometimes necessary, evidence that can be utilized in a court of law.
We have taken every effort to make sure that the BWC implementation puts a very high priority on the individual right to privacy and specific guides are in place for when recording is needed as well as prohibited. A great deal of research has been conducted to make sure our policy and actions are in line with the laws contained in the Ohio Revised Code, requirements set forth in House Bill 245 of 132nd Ohio General Assembly, recommendations set forth by the Ohio Collaborative, as well as best practices as recommended by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, and other state police departments.
We are very excited to be taking another step forward in providing this University with another layer of professionalism and transparency. We look forward to continuing to move forward as a department dedicated to serving the faculty, staff, students, and visitors of Northeast Ohio Medical University. If you have any questions, concerns, or recommendations please do not hesitate to reach out to us.
-Submitted by Kali Meonske