Officials: APD Needs to Upgrade Cameras

Austin, TX (myFOXaustin.com) - City officials are urging the Austin Police Department to upgrade their VHS patrol car cameras to digital cameras. The move comes after several high profile officer-involved shootings in which officers did not activate their patrol car cameras.

"A digitalized camera system that will be activated automatically will help restore a relationship of trust," said Council Member Sheryl Cole.

Several council members and community leaders gathered at City Hall Monday to show support for the investment.
Police Chief Art Acevedo estimates replacing all VHS cameras with digital systems will cost millions of dollars but says six million dollars left over from last year's budget could be used to buy the new cameras.

"The people of this community deserve the best and the more we can do to remove the human factor in the use of these technologies the better off we'll be as a community."

But local NAACP President Nelson Linder says it will take much more than new cameras to restore the community's trust. He believes the real problem is District Attorney's office that is unwilling to prosecute police officers involved in deadly shootings.

"This is a very serious issue and for the most part, nobody is being held accountable," said Linder.

Council Member Cole agrees new cameras are not a silver bullet for APD's perceived problems with the minority community, but says it is an important tool that will protect officers and the community.

Chief Acevedo hopes to have a proposal to the Austin City Council next month.