Countryside Police Chief Paul Klimek is hoping a grant he applied for will cover the cost of body and in-car cameras used by officers.
At the Jan. 8 meeting of the city council, Klimek asked the alderman for authorization to seek the grant to reimburse the city $26,703 for buying the cameras made by Motorola.
The council voted unanimously in favor of the grant application.
After the council meeting, Chief Klimek said that body and in-car cameras have become valuable tools for police departments.
“They’re probably one of the best things to happen to law enforcement,” he said.
“It’s irrefutable evidence whether its evidence for crime or (when) people file complaints (against an officer),” he said. “It captures great evidence to have in court.”
Countryside has already purchased 25 body cams and seven in-car cameras, Klimek said
Most officers wear it clipped to their vest. In-car units are on the dashboard. Those cars with “cages” in them to detain prisoners have cameras in the back.
The SAFE-T Act required all police officers in Illinois to wear body cameras as of January 1.