Soap Lake department to buy body cameras

Starting next year, an entire police department in a rural eastern Washington town will have body cameras.

Soap Lake Police Chief Brian Cox says the five cameras and software equipment cost nearly $13,000 and will be paid for with money from selling an old Charger and surplus equipment.

Chief Cox adds they wanted to wait until the new state laws went into effect before purchasing the camera, which help restrict public disclosure requests. That in turn will make it easier for officers to fulfill the requests, and spend less time and money in the office.

He adds it has almost become a necessity to have body cameras because they provides a "partial witness" if a matter ever came up at court. He says it tells the story from an impartial view for both police and the victim or suspect.

Chief Cox says he will require the camera's be used every time the officer contacts someone.