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SALT LAKE CITY – The Unified Police Department is debating whether to get rid of body cameras for their patrol officers because of the high cost of storing the digital video.
The department received a roughly $150,000 grant to start the program in 2017, but it costs thousands of dollars a month to store the data and repair equipment that is damaged during police work or because of normal wear and tear.
It could cost $400,000 a year to keep the program running.
Currently about half of UPD’s patrol officers wear body cameras.
UPD will hold a public meeting at their headquarters on 3300 South in Salt Lake City next month before making a final decision.