The rise of body worn cameras (BWCs) mirrors the growth of our digital age and directly coincides with demands for more accountability from law enforcement. You may wonder, what does a body worn camera cost? The answer is a complex interplay of hardware, software, and often underestimated factors.

Initial Cost of Body Worn Cameras: The Hardware

A body worn camera is a significant investment from the hardware perspective. Today, body worn cameras can range from $120 to $2000 or more. However, the cost of the device is just the beginning. Selection should be based on durability, quality of image and sound, reliability, and battery life. Camera specifications such as field of view, pre-record buffer, video resolution, frame rate and low-light performance can also influence the price.

Additional Cost Factors: Software and Storage

The true cost of a body-worn camera program is not just the cameras themselves, but the infrastructure needed to manage and store the massive amounts of data they collect. This includes video management software and secure storage options. Some providers offer packaged solutions that include both hardware and software elements, simplifying budgeting but locking the department into single-source procurement.

Cloud-based storage solutions can greatly increase the operational cost, with fees priced per officer per month, based on the data upload volume. Often, these costs are overlooked or under-budgeted during the initial planning process.

The Human Factor: Training and Policy Management

A body worn camera is only as effective as the officer using it. As a result, adequate training is another factor that influences costs. Establishing a solid body camera policy that meets community and department needs, complies with state and local laws, and accommodates public disclosure requirements is also a time-consuming and potentially costly process.

Maintenance, Repair and Replacement

Just like any other piece of equipment, body cameras are subject to wear and tear. Therefore, the budget should include the cost for warranties, routine maintenance, necessary repairs, and eventual replacement. A replacement schedule in line with the expected life cycle of your body cameras is highly recommended.

Examining Long-term Cost Savings

Although the upfront costs might seem expensive, considering the legal expenditure that these cameras can save in terms of providing evidence for trials and minimizing frivilous lawsuits, they are often well worth the initial investment.

The specific cost of a BWC program can vary widely depending on a variety of factors such as the number of officers, data management strategy, policy considerations, and community expectations, but by considering the total cost of ownership, departments can paint a clearer picture of what to expect.

So, how much does a body worn camera really cost? As we have seen, the answer is about more than just the sticker price on the device. It is about investing in a tool and a program that has the potential to not only increase transparency and trust within the community, but also provide clear-cut evidence in situations that can otherwise become he said, she said scenarios, thus protecting both the officers and the citizens they serve.