Fulton police hope to add more body cameras

The Fulton Police Department is looking to expand its ability to document its officers' work.

The department is is applying for a grant from the Missouri Intergovernmental Risk Management Association to purchase 10 Micro DV Recorders, or body cameras, for officers' use.

"Each individual officer would have a camera and a voice recorder," said Fulton Police Chief Steve Myers. "Any time you can record information from an arrest or traffic stop, it's a good thing."

He said the FPD already has several of the body cameras, but the grant would enable each officer working on a shift to be equipped with the recording device.

According to Myers, the total cost for the project is $1,500, with the City of Fulton to be responsible for 25 percent of that amount ($375) should the department's grant be approved by MIRMA.

He said the purchase would be an asset to the department.

"It records what actually happens versus what people say happens," Myers said, noting having those sorts of electronic records could save the department time in court as well. "It's a very good tool for us, and we hope to be able to purchase the additional cameras."