Police body camera clears local officer of allegation

CELINA - The police department's new body cameras have proven valuable after video recently exonerated an officer accused of threatening a resident, according to chief Tom Wale.

"I think they're (cameras) doing a good job," he said. "They are for the benefit of the public and officers, and I think they're doing what they're meant to do."

A resident last week lodged a complaint about the treatment he received from a police officer during an investigation, Wale said.

"The man said the officer had threatened him and threatened to arrest him," the chief said. "We looked at the tape and that's not how it happened at all."

The officer was dispatched to the resident's home after he claimed to have been run off the road by another driver, Wale explained. During the officer's investigation, he found no tire tracks in the wet grass to back up the man's statement.

"The officer then told the resident that if he filed a false police report, we could have him arrested," Wale said. "But by the time the resident got to me, it was a completely different story where my officer was abusing his power, and it proved to be false."

The incident was the sole complaint filed with police since the new body cameras were put into use, he said.

All on-duty officers started wearing body cameras in January after sharing one for several months. Each of the 17 cameras costs about $800. Wale said he feels they are a good investment.

"It's cut down on a lot of false complaints and threats of lawsuits," he said. "People know we have proof of what everyone involved was doing during a stop or investigation. It's worked out well."

The cameras also remind officers to treat the public properly, Wale said. The public should be aware interactions are being recorded, he noted.