Who will, and won’t, wear SPD’s new body cams

The Seattle City Council has approved funding to roll out body cams for police officers — $2.3 million for the purchase and operation of the video system. It’s the latest move in an effort to create greater transparency between the department and the public. But not all police will be part of the initial rollout.

Related: Despite fears of misuse, Seattle council funds police body cameras

“All front-line officers in uniform will have them,” said Sgt. Sean Whitcomb. “Specialty units will be the last ones.”

“The goal is to get everyone in uniform and contacting the public to have one,” he said.

This means patrol officers and beat cops. But other Seattle officers will have to wait.

Seattle police and body cams

Specialty units, as Whitcomb points out, are among the lingering cops that will be later phased in to using body cams.

Specialty units include K9 units; harbor patrol; SWAT units; gang units; and the traffic section, which means motorcycle cops.

Another specialty unit is the recently formed Navigation Team, a combination of officers and outreach workers designed to work with Seattle’s homeless population. Ultimately, the team aims to get those experiencing homelessness to the appropriate services and off the street.

City documents also indicate that the police chief could approve certain officers to not wear the cameras — basically, undercover officers.

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