The City of Grand Rapids Police Department is outfitting 20 officers with body worn cameras.
The Grand Rapids Police Department purchased nearly 300 body cameras at a cost of $1.8 million. The first shipment of 20 body cameras have arrived and are now in use.
The department is the first in the nation to use the Axon Body 2 camera featuring higher resolution video. They are automatically activated when officers hit the lights and sirens on their police cruiser and vibrate alerting officers the camera is recording. The 2nd generation body cameras also offer greater weather resistance, longer battery life and greater storage capacity.
G.R.P.D. tested 10 cameras earlier this year and officers have received training.
Manufacturer TASER International plans to have all 298 units delivered by the end of February 2016.