Spokane police get high-definition body cameras

Published 1:31 pm Sunday, June 12, 2016

SPOKANE — The Spokane Police Department is equipping all officers with new, high-definition body cameras.

The Spokesman-Journal reported that most of the department’s 220 cameras have only been in use since May 2015, but the manufacturer is switching to a new design with longer battery life and more recording options.

Maj. Justin Lundgren says Spokane will be able to swap its older models at no additional cost, but that the city could pay for more video storage if the higher-quality recordings need more space. The department is testing one of the newer cameras and hasn’t determined how much storage space they need for the footage.

The new cameras, made by Taser International, will be in use starting next April in Liberty Lake.