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SARASOTA – (WSNN) – Will the death of George Floyd renew, perhaps accelerate the debate over outfitting Sarasota police officers with body cameras?  

After five years of talking about it, Sarasota leaders are getting closer to bringing body cameras to Sarasota.  City commissioners voted unanimously Monday to develop a plan to equip Sarasota Police Officers with the devices. 

Timing is often everything.  City Mayor, Jen Ahearn-Koch, says there’s been widespread support for years.

“It’s just that now, it’s a hot topic, and it’s something that the community is demanding even more and the police support as well,” Mayor Ahearn-Koch said. “So, it’s a win-win.”

The hot topic spurred by the killing of George Floyd, other high profile cases, and the subsequent nationwide reaction all playing a part in forcing another hard look at body cameras.  SPD Chief Bernadette DiPino has long supported body cams as they offer transparency and report accuracy.

“Police officers can view their body cameras to accurately depict what happens in their police report, helps them with their recollection, and also be used as evidence in cases,” Chief DiPino said.

In 2014, SPD received a $36,000 grant for a trial and purchased 24 body cameras. Legal and cost concerns related to storing and redacting the video led to shelving the program.  That gear is now obsolete.  

For the past two years, commissioners set aside 500,000 dollars for a camera program.  But, to equip all sworn officers, cost estimates range from $713,000 to $833,000.

“The commission gave us until December, but we’re moving on a fast-track to try and get them into place as soon as we possibly can, under the direction of the city manager,” Chief DiPino said.

Mayor Jen Ahearn-Koch says body cams are but one tool.  

“The bigger picture is racism, and cameras are not going to solve that problem,” Mayor Ahearn-Koch. “It’s a tool to get to where we want to go, but it’s certainly not a solution.”

Mayor Jen Ahearn-Koch says the city will be implementing body cameras by the end of the year, if not sooner.