WICHITA, Kansas – Sunflower Community Action has been pushing for cameras in police cars since 2005. Now, the group appears to be another step closer to actually getting it done.
The city is currently testing the usage of having the cameras, but local leaders say it is too expensive to outfit all vehicles. That’s why a local group is pushing for federal dollars to make it happen.
"Everybody benefits from having cameras in cop cars,” said Monty Shaw, a Sunflower member.
That message may soon pay off. Wednesday morning Sunflower met with City Manager Robert Layton and a representative from Congressman Todd Tiahrt’s office. The goal was to find money to pay for the cameras.
There have been legal challenges against the city by those who claim they were pulled over due to racial profiling. That's why Sunflower points out the cameras will not only protect citizens, but also the city.
"We have been told over the years that it’s a funding issue, so that is what we're trying to do -- take the funding issue out of the equation,” Shaw said.
Sunflower hopes federal stimulus dollars can be used to help purchase the cameras. Right now, the city has eight cars that are equipped with the recording devices as part of a pilot program. The city is expected to release a report on the program this October and Sunflower expects it will be a positive one.
“We think it's important to get the cameras in the police cars for accountability reasons,” Shaw said.
Sunflower says there is still a lot of work ahead, but it feels having local and federal leaders on board is definitely a step in the right direction.
The city did not comment on the meeting, but in the past it has maintained there is simply not enough money in the current budget to support the cameras.
