Having field tested one brand of body-worn camera, town police are preparing to test a second brand, and later plan to test a third brand in seeking to find the recording device that best meets the needs of the law enforcement agency.

Last year, police tested a compact portable video/audio recording system designed to document their interactions with the public and also gather evidence at crime scenes. That technology is generally known by the name body-worn cameras (BWC).

In those tests, the small, square black devices were affixed to certain uniformed police officers' shirts, between the two patch pockets. When required, the officer turned on the BWC and video and audio were recorded, as seen and heard from the perspective of the police officer. The surveillance devices are intended to increase the accountability of both the police and the public.

Police tested VieVu cameras last year. They plan to soon start testing cameras made by Taser International, and later test devices made by WatchGuard, police spokesman Lieutenant Aaron Bahamonde said February 13.

The BWCs distributed by the three firms all perform the same function, he said, noting that police are seeking the device which best suits their needs, both in terms of hardware and software. Such product testing is intended to determine what products are most practical to use and also are most compatible with existing police department technology.

Lt Bahamonde said that police expect to make a decision by June on which product the police department should acquire for its patrol officers. After a selection is made, police would then pursue funding for such purchases, he said.

The lieutenant said that some state funding is available for municipal police agencies to acquire BWCs, but noted that many conditions are attached to towns receiving such state grants.

Town police are aware of the various confidentiality issues that arise among members of the public when police are working with functioning BWCs that make visual and sonic recordings of law enforcement situations, Lt Bahamonde stressed. Thus, the Police Commission would formulate a policy governing the use of BWCs, he said. Police union members would provide their views on that policy's content, he said.

The state's Police Officer Standards and Training Council has created a model policy concerning BWCs.

For many years, town police have had dashboard-mounted cameras positioned in police patrol vehicles which visually/sonically record what is viewed through that vehicle's front windshield. Such devices record activity occurring when police stop motorists to investigate.

In August 2015, Police Commission members decided that equipping town police officers with BWCs is a good idea that should be implemented.

Some police agencies in the state already are using BWCs, while others are in the testing stage.

It would not necessarily be obvious to members of the public when a police officer's BWC is making a recording.