Redmond Police Seek Input On Equipping Officers With Body Cameras

REDMOND, WA — The Redmond Police Department is looking to hear from community members as it considers a new proposal to purchase and equip officers with body-worn and vehicle cameras. Should the city move forward with the plan, Redmond police would join less than a dozen King County law enforcement agencies with body cameras, and an even smaller handful equipped with both devices.

An analysis from KING 5 last year identified just eight police departments using body cameras in King County, including in Seattle, Tukwila and Kent. Just four were using body-worn and dashboard cameras, KING found. Some community groups have called for more agencies to implement the cameras to enhance transparency, especially in incidents involving police use of force.

While state legislators did approve several pieces of legislation geared at police reforms this year, lawmakers in Olympia did not take statewide action to implement such cameras more broadly.

In Redmond, the King County Prosecuting Attorney's office is still reviewing an investigation into a September 2020 police shooting that killed 39-year-old Andrea Churna. Since the city does not have police cameras, the investigation primarily relied on witness statements, police reports and other evidence.

Redmond Police Chief Darrell Lowe plans to present a proposal to buy and implement the cameras to the Redmond City Council in June. Officials estimate the initial cost to stand up the program would be $815,000, with another $635,000 needed to maintain service each year.

Participating in the survey is simple, and residents can answer a simple yes or no question online. With just a few hundred votes in by Monday afternoon, nearly 90 percent of participants had signaled support for the program. Residents have until May 23 to complete the survey.