Atlantic Beach Police Department set to equip all officers with body-worn cameras

ATLANTIC BEACH, Fla. — Watch Action News Jax LIVE here

The entire Atlantic Beach Police Department will soon be equipped with body-worn cameras.

The Atlantic Beach City Commission unanimously approved a resolution to purchase 27 cameras at Monday night’s meeting.

The cameras along with the necessary software and equipment would cost $48,000, according to the resolution.

City leaders said the funds needed are available in the 2020-2021 Police Department Budget.

In July, Atlantic Beach Commissioners approved a resolution to buy 13 body cameras for $37,000 which was available in the 2019-2020 Police Department Budget.

The Atlantic Beach Police Department is the first law enforcement agency at the Duval County beaches to get body cameras.

The Jacksonville Beach and Neptune Beach Police Departments said the biggest hurdle was funding.

Neptune Beach Police Department said it plans to buy two body-worn cameras for officers assigned to the DUI traffic unit by 2021 Atlantic Beach Police Department Chief of Police Victor Gualillo said his officers want to use the body cameras.

“They are welcoming it with open arms,” Chief Gualillo said. “They feel if the public sees what they have to do on a day-to-day basis and what they do as professional law enforcement officers it will only be better for transparency.”

Chief Gualillo said he hopes to have the first batch of body cameras out on the streets in January.

Cox Media Group