Around 75 people turned out Thursday night for Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams’s update on the future of police body cameras in Duval County.
Williams says the cameras will increase police accountability and transparency and improve civility between officers and the public.
He says cameras were donated to the department for an initial test phase, and money in the new year's budget will allow the department to buy more.
The proposed body camera policy is on the JSO website.
Among those who attended the sheriff’s presentation was Catherine Corby with the Jacksonville Progressive Coalition.
“I think body cameras are a step in the right direction. I think it shows a willingness to be more transparent. But I don’t think body cameras are the easy answer. There is no easy answer to this. The only answer is dedicated people coming together to make our community better," she said.
Thursday’s info session was the culmination of six JSO town hall meetings to discuss body cameras with the community.
Williams is planning additional town halls on the subject this fall.
Contact reporter Cyd Hoskinson at choskinson@wjct.org, 904-358-6351 and on Twitter at @cydwjctnews.
