Omaha City Council discusses body cam, taser contract

Omaha City Council discusses body cam, taser contract

PROTESTERS' CALLS TODEFUND THE POLICE,MANY SAYING THE CITYOF OMAHA HAS TOO BIGOF A POLICE BUDGET.THIS MESSAGE WASHEARD AGAIN DURINGTHE CITY COUNCILMEETING TODAY WHERETHEY DISCUSSED ACONTRACT TO REPLACEBODY CAMS ANDTASERS FOR THEOMAHA POLICEDEPARTMENT.3 NEWS NOWREPORTER KENTLUETZEN WAS AT THATMEETING AND HASDETAILS.:15:16:41 "I OPPOSE THEORDINANCE TOAPPROVE THEPURCHASE OF NEWBODY CAMERAS ANDTASERS." THE OMAHACITY COUNCIL HEARDFROM THOSE WHOAPPORVE ANDDISAPPROVE OF A 5-YEAR CONTRACTPRICED AT 5.5 MILLIONDOLLAR TO UPDATEBODY CAMS ANDTASERS FOR THEOMAHA POLICEDEPARTMENT.:15:26:44 "I THINKANYTHING WE CAN DOTO AS A COMMUNITY TOSUPPORT ANDENCOURAGE MENTALHEALTH AND PEOPLEACTUALLY GETTING THECARE THAT THEY NEEDINSTEAD OFSURVEILANCE CONTROLAND PUNISHMENT..I REALLY THINK WOULDBE INTERESTING."SARAH JOHNSON, ANOMAHA RESIDENT SAYSRECENT CALLS FOR THECITY TO INVEST INMENTAL HEALTH AREIGNORED, ADDING THECONTRACT WOULDSTORE OMAHA'S POLICEBODY CAM FOOTAGE INA COMPANY BASED INARIZONA.DEPUTY CHIEF MICHELEBANG SAYS STORINGBODY CAM FOOTAGE ISEXPENSIVE AND THATCOMPANY EVIDENCEDOT COM CATALOGS ALLTHE FILM SAFELY.:15:40:16 "THE BODYWORN CAMERAS ARE 3.4MILLION OF THAT ANDUNFORTUNATELY A LOTOF THAT IS THESTORAGE AND THERE ISTERABYTES CURRENTLYOF BODY WORNCAMERA FOOTAGETHERE." BANGS ADDSTHE CURRENT OPDEQUIPEMENT ISOUTDATED WITHCURRENT CONTRACTSCOMING TO AN END.ONE RESIDENTQUESTIONED WHY THEPOLICE FORCE SHOULDBE GIVEN NEW TASERSAFTER ZACHARY BEARHEELS, A 29-YEAR-OLDMAN, DIED IN THEHANDS OF THE OMAHAPOLICE DEPARTMENT IN2017 AFTER BEINGTASED REPEATEDLY.:15:15:20 "OUR BROTHERZACAHRY BEAR HEALSWS MURDERED BY OPD,WHO USED TASERSAGAINST HIM 12 TIMES.HE WAS MENTALLY ILLAND OFF HISMEDICATION.HE WAS NOT A THREAT.HE NEEDED MEDICALQUESTIONED WHY THEPOLICE FORCE SHOULDBE GIVEN NEW TASERSAFTER ZACHARY BEARHEELS, A 29-YEAR-OLDMAN, DIED IN THEHANDS OF THE OMAHAPOLICE DEPARTMENT IN2017 AFTER BEINGTASED REPEATEDLY.HE NEEDED MEDICALATTENTION."COUNCILMEN BEN GRAYRESPONDED, STATINGBODY CAMS ANDSERS HELP KEEPLICE ACCOUNTABLE.:EN YOU MESS ERPEOPLE IN MYMMUNITY.STAND UP: CDING TO THEAHE LAST A,FICER-INVOLVEDOOTINGSMBER.

5:29:28 "LA YEAR, 19..IS PHAVING USED THE APONSLL YEAR.

THREDUCED CRE TOSUCH AN EXTENT THATOE AROUND THE COUNTRY WEREMI TONETWORK AND THECOMMUNITY WAS ING IN OMAHA.KL.N.PY CHIEF BANG YS THE CURRESERSALSO LEAD TO LESS