The Dubuque Area Landlord Association (D.A.L.A.) recently announced its plan to donate $2,500 to the Dubuque Police Department for the purchase of body cameras for officers.
The presentation of this donation is planned for 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 6th, 2015, at the Dubuque Law Enforcement Center.
The Dubuque Police Department has had a limited number of body cameras in use for approximately 5 years, but has been exploring broader use throughout the department. To that end, the department recently formed a research committee to explore the acquisition, policies/procedures, and use/maintenance of body cameras. The department is very appreciative of this donation as funding sources have yet to be identified and this generous donation will help alleviate some of the initial financial burden not covered through other potential resources.
It is the department’s belief that body cameras for officers will enhance their safety and that of those they interact with, especially when use of force is involved. Most realize such cameras will not entirely alleviate or resolve all the challenges that develop before, during and after these encounters, nor do they provide an exact duplication of what an officer is seeing, feeling, hearing, etc. However, the cameras will certainly be a supplemental means in which to help determine what exactly transpired, further promoting the already existent transparency the Dubuque Police Department strives to maintain.