The Fishers Police Department is preparing to install body cameras to be worn by officers in the field.  The 2019 city budget includes funding for the video equipment.

The department leadership sees the new technology in a positive light.

“We feel like it is a tool that will allow us to maintain trust in the community and build better cases on the criminal side,” Assistant Police Chief Luke Gannon told the Fishers Police Merit Commission.  “I don’t know of any real downsides out there at this point on the body-worn camera.”

“Our officers are asking for it,” said Chief of Police Ed Gebhart. “They know it’s time.”

Gebhart told commission members at their semi-annual meeting Thursday that his department and Carmel are both using the same contractor to provide this technology.  Westfield is changing vendors.  The chief said Noblesville and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department are both watching Fishers & Carmel before moving forward with their body-cam programs.

The contractor Fishers plans to utilize offers video recording technology inside the police vehicle and interview rooms, along with the body-cams.

The commission received an update on the 2018 department goals, which were largely accomplished.  The department heard updates on planning for 2019 and 2020 in a number of areas, including training and cooperation with the HSE Schools.

Two of the five commission members are elected by Fishers police officers, and that process begins soon.  Nominations for those two seats begin December 24th and end January 15th.  Officers will have a chance to meet with the nominees January 24th, and the election naming those two commission members will be held January 25th.  Warren Henderson and Jim White are the two members voted by police officers currently serving on the commission.

Tiffany Sharpley, an appointed member of the commission, informed commission members Thursday she has her house up for sale and plans to move from the Fishers area, meaning a person will need to be appointed as her replacement.