Chickamauga police getting new car and body cameras

CHICKAMAUGA — Chickamauga Police Chief Ronald Roach has been given the go-ahead to purchase four cameras for his officers.

The City Council, during its February meeting, approved the chief’s request to buy new cameras that are mounted in patrol cars and on officers’ uniforms. Roach said these new cameras will replace those — frequently in need of repairs — put in service in 2009.

“I’ve had one in the shop three times since coming here,” said Roach, who took over as chief in February 2014.

Cameras being purchased will integrate a stationary car camera with the one worn by an officer. The car-mounted camera will record what is in front of the vehicle as well as its back seat.

“It provides a 360-degree view from the car and includes information from the officer’s body cam,” Roach said.

City Manager Micheal Haney said the department had budgeted $11,000 to buy a couple of camera systems, each valued at about $5,000. But two more systems are being purchased as part of equipping new patrol cars that were scheduled for purchase with special purpose, local option sales tax funding. The remainder was paid from the city’s general fund.

Chickamauga’s police force of six full-time and six part-time officers will now have onboard cameras in all patrol vehicles, the chief said.