SCARBOROUGH, Maine — The Scarborough Police Department is discussing purchasing body and dash camera equipment for each officer in the department.
In today's advanced digital and technical world, Scarborough Patrol Sgt. Andrew Flynn said everything is always being recorded, especially police interactions.
"Everyone expects to see things on camera and see videos of incidents happening," he said.
Scarborough is one of the only departments in Cumberland County that does not have dash and body camera equipment. There was a time when having body and dash camera equipment wasn't a concern, but now, Flynn said not having the cameras makes it harder for officers at the Scarborough Police Department to collect evidence and thoroughly investigate incidents they respond to.
"Being able to record evidence, whether it be an OUI investigation, or recording a witness statement or a suspect's interview... to have that video footage present right there is big for the district's attorney's office in order for them to successfully prosecute the cases," Flynn said.
Flynn also mentioned that having body and dash camera equipment will help the department better investigate use of force complaints. Although the department does not have a lot of use of force complaints, Flynn said there are some filed every so often.
"We have use of force complaints," he said. "The world we live in is evolving and we're going into more dangerous situations and having to deal with bigger problems than we did as a small-town community than we once were."
Flynn said he believes spending close to $1 million dollars to purchase body and dash cameras for each officer is a smart investment. Community members would have to vote yes on November's election ballot for the department to move forward with the purchase being that it would be an added expense for taxpayers.
The cameras would be purchased from Axon, which is a brand that is widely used by police departments across the country. The devices automatically activate, turning on when officers pull their firearm from their belt, if they turn on their taser, if they turn on the lights and the siren in their police car, or if they exceed a certain speed in their cruiser.
Flynn said the devices clearly capture video of each encounter officers make. The Falmouth Police Department uses the Axon brand of dash and body cameras. The department has had the equipment since December of 2022.
Falmouth Deputy Chief Jeff Pardue said the equipment's automatic activation feature is one of the key features of the cameras.
"They're often working in high-stress situations. They could be responding to an immediate threat in front of them, and really truthfully, as an administrator, the last thing I want my people to be doing is worrying about turning the camera on when they should be focused on an external threat or defending themselves or someone else."
Pardue said the devices help officers hold themselves and other accountable. He added that right, wrong or indifferent, nationally officers have lost a lot of credibility with the general public. Pardue said officers at his department take the oath they swore to protect and serve very seriously, and part of doing that is fostering a level of trust with the community they serve. He added that body cams have helped them do that.
"If anything, else I think it allows other people in our community who are less familiar with the people who are assigned the incredible responsibilities of being a police officer to acknowledge and actually observe the real time and critical thinking decision making that is incumbent on law enforcement to respond to every single day on every single call," Pardue said
The Scarborough Police Department will host an informational meeting at the police department on Thursday at 6 p.m. to answer questions the community may have.