Nearly half of Ross police officers deploying new body cameras

Tony LaRussa | Tuesday, July 21, 2020 6:01 p.m.

Submitted

Nearly half of of Ross Township’s 42-member police department have been issued body-worn cameras to record their encounters with the public. The rest of the officers are expected to complete training by the end of August on the policies and use of the cameras.

Nearly half of Ross Township police officers have been equipped with body cameras after completing training.

“The officers have been training extensively on the policy and the use of the cameras,” Chief Joe Ley told the Ross board of commissioners on Monday.

Ross commissioners voted unanimously June 15 to approve a policy governing the police department’s use of body cameras.

After completing training, officers must obtain a score of 100% “to move on,” the chief said.

The Ross Township Police Department has a staff of 42 officers — the chief, two lieutenants, eight sergeants, two detectives, three traffic officers and 26 patrol officers.

The officers who completed training already are utilizing the system to record encounters with the public.

“You’ll see those officers out in the field using the cameras, which have already provided benefits with the footage obtained,” Ley said.

The remainder of the officers are expected to complete training by the end of August, the chief said.