Wauwatosa Police Deploy Body-Worn Cameras

WAUWATOSA, WI—Wauwatosa officers, detectives, and supervisors were trained and began using body cameras, according to a news release.

The body-worn cameras will be activated during any enforcement or investigative contact. The recordings will continue until the officer’s involvement in the call for service ceases or an exception to recording becomes present.

These exceptions include sensitive situations – such as interviewing victims of sexual abuse, child victims, or in certain locations such as a medical or educational setting, the release said.

The cameras are always recording in a “buffer” where it saves the previous thirty seconds of video with no audio. The video is digitally secured in a cloud-based evidence management system. The original video will be stored for a set time period in accordance to how it’s categorized – a minimum of 120 days per Wisconsin State Statute. Any edits or redactions made will create a new video file and the original cannot be otherwise altered.

The cameras do have limitations that need to be understood and considered when evaluating a recording.

The cameras are mounted at mid-chest height and will not follow the officer’s eyes. At times, the view may be obstructed by the officer’s hands, arms, a vehicle frame, doorway, etc. The cameras also do not have any night-vision or infrared enhancements; the cameras are designed to show what an officer is seeing in the given lighting situation.

In September, Police Chief Barry Weber said he supported the city buying body cameras while also updating the police squad cameras.

The request for body cameras came after protests regarding Joseph Mensah, a Wauwatosa police officer who was involved in three fatal shootings of people of color over the past five years.
Mensah was suspended with pay last month in connection with his involvement in the police-involved deaths of Antonio Gonzalez in 2015, Jay Anderson Jr. in 2016 and Alvin Cole in February 2020. Mensah was cleared in all three deaths.

Mensah resigned from Wauwatosa Police Department and is now employed with the Waukesha Sheriff's Office.

"Despite any limitations, the implementation of body-worn cameras will improve community relations and demonstrate the commitment of the Wauwatosa Police Department to serving with integrity, professionalism, service and accountability," the release said.