Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
SEPTA Transit Police officers are now wearing body cameras while on their beats, which include all of the transit agency’s coverage area.
The body cameras, which rolled out as a test in 2014, are being worn by all of the agency’s 275 patrol officers. Training for officers has been provided.
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The program will have officers wearing Digital Ally First VU body-worn cameras and related accessories. The training and equipment is costing SEPTA $400,000.
“We’ve done this because we believe it gives the SEPTA Transit Police Department more credibility with the community. They’ll have more trust in us, and feel there are additional checks and balances,” SEPTA Police Chief Thomas Nestel said. “These cameras will also greatly aide with our investigative efforts by providing audio and visual evidence of officers’ interactions with the public and response to calls.”
Nestel talked to LevittownNow.com in 2014 about the pilot program. He said at the time that the cameras were proving to be helpful for the public and officers.
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“We had a guilty plea in a case strictly because we had audio and video of the contact with individual,” the chief said. He added the cameras have also cleared one officer who had several citizens complaints against him.
The system will expand SEPTA’s video collection system, which includes over 18,000 surveillance cameras at stations and on trains, buses and trolleys.
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“These technologies have played a big role in efforts to make SEPTA safer, and to help our customers feel more secure while they’re riding,” Nestel said. “It also serves as warning to those who might be thinking about misbehaving – if you commit a crime on SEPTA, we’re most likely going to have it on video, and we’re going to catch you.”
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