Sometime during the next few months, Ely police officers may have a new piece of equipment.
The local police force may join numerous law enforcement agencies across the state and nation in outfitting its officers with body cameras.
An initial move in that direction came Tuesday, when city council members agreed to “initiate the process,” which includes both a public comment period and a public hearing before the move may be adopted.
A letter from police chief Chad Houde indicated that body cameras could be worn by Ely officers “during the fall of 2025 or winter of 2026.”
“The time is right now to start the process,” said Houde. “Just for the public to realize, we don’t have body cameras. We don’t have squad (car) cameras. I’ve been here 20 years, and that’s not a normal thing for most agencies.”
If Ely moved ahead with body cameras, the department would be catching up, in a sense, to other departments and law enforcement agencies and Houde said the change would add further transparency.
“We make do with what we have,” said Houde. “Our officers are very trustworthy, but there are times where we get people that are concerned, whether it’s more transparency on a call. Or maybe they’ve perceived it one way and we’ve perceived it another. The attorneys might need more information. With this day and age and everything that’s going on, I think the time is now.”
Estimates show that adding body cameras may cost about $38,000 over five years, including software, licensing and equipment.
Houde said after the council meeting that he’s hopeful that public safety aid would fund some of the costs.
But at least for now, any purchase is on hold until the public has a chance to weigh in.
“There’s a process,” said Houde. “What that entails is we have to have a public process, a public hearing for one, and a public comment period not only about the purchase, but the policy we would enact as a department.”
A draft policy will be formulated by the city and it will be up for public review and comment starting Sept. 2. The policy will be available at City Hall and placed on the city’s website.
Public comments will also be taken at a public hearing tentatively set for Tuesday, Oct. 7, starting at 5 p.m., at Ely City Hall.
In a related matter Tuesday, the city hired Helen Phenning for an open police officer position, pending a background investigation and psychological and medical examinations.
