Body Cameras Coming To Superior Police Department

Privacy Issues Remain One Area Of Concern

By
Adelie Freyja Annabel (CC-BY-NC-SA)

The Superior Police Department expects to deploy body cameras by this summer.

Superior’s new police chief Nick Alexander said he’s making good on his pledge to restore public trust after an officer struck a Superior woman during an arrest last year. He said he hopes body cameras will go a long way toward that goal.

“(It will) give them at least the comfort of knowing that the interaction with the police is being documented in what I would consider an unbiased way,” Alexander said.

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He said he’ll also develop policies to guide their use and protect privacy.

Jackson Police Chief Jed Dolnick said departments are trying to resolve these kinds of questions.

“For example, that they need to be turned off if you’re interviewing certain victims, especially victims of sexual assault,” said Dolnick. “Or, if they need to be turned off if you’re interviewing suspects.”

Alexander said he hopes lawmakers or the courts will provide guidance on those issues. He said Superior may spend up to $100,000 on body cameras and video storage.