STAMFORD, CT – Mayor David Martin today was at the Stamford Police Department Training Center to introduce the implementation of the Body Worn Camera Program in the Stamford Police Department on this final day of training.

“Stamford is one of the most diverse communities in the country,” said Mayor Martin. “We have one of the best police forces in the nation and body cameras will be a vital resource for protecting both the community and the police to ensure that Stamford remains the safest city in New England.”

Ted Jankowski, Director of Public Safety added, “Body Worn Cameras are essential to our commitment to modern community policing. Having our officers equipped with body worn cameras is another way of continuing the positive community relations between the Department and the residents of Stamford. With our Patrol Officers now trained and wearing these cameras, officer and resident safety is improved as well as the public trust between the Police and our community.”

Body Worn Cameras have been shown to provide for accountability and transparency. In other municipalities, there have been major reductions in “use of force” incidents and civilian complaints. Other communities have also seen that Body Worn Cameras have changed behavior and helped to de-escalate confrontations between civilians and police.

Police Chief Jonathan Fontneau continued, “The trust between law enforcement agencies and the people we protect and serve is essential to the stability of our community. The implementation and use of body-worn cameras will enhance the safe and effective delivery of policing services and will provide the necessary transparency to clear up conflicts and questions.  We are an open book and this will show our pages.”

The Stamford Police Department’s Body Worn Camera Policies and Procedures were developed in cooperation with the Stamford Police Association and ten integral community partners to ensure that policies and procedures were in place to address individual’s rights, privacy, and safety issues. The partnership included the NAACP; ACLU; State’s Attorney’s Office; Domestic Violence Crisis Center; Sexual Assault Crisis Center; Building One Community; Stamford Hospital; DOMUS Kids; Westside Partnership and Eastside Partnership.

Jack Bryant, President of the NAACP in Stamford said, “I applaud Mayor Martin, our Stamford Director of Public Safety and our Stamford Police Chief for equipping Stamford Police Officers with body cameras. The concept of police body cameras has not been easily accepted by all municipalities in Connecticut, but here in Stamford it was accepted from the beginning and Stamford officials have worked with the community to get us to this point.”

Rich Colangelo, the States Attorney stated, “I am pleased that the Body Worn Camera Program is being rolled out. This is great for the Stamford Police Department and great for the community. Transparency is never a bad thing in criminal justice.”

Today is the final day of Body Worn Camera training in the Stamford Police Department and for outfitting Patrol Officers with the Axon Body Worn Camera. Members were being trained this week on the department’s Body Worn Camera Policies and Procedures, and on the technical aspects for operating the cameras.