The Streator Police Department wants to get ahead of the Illinois SAFE-T Act and purchases police body cameras. The law requires that small police departments have the cameras by 2025. Deputy Chief Robert Wood recommends that the city purchases the cameras from a company called Watchguard. He says they already use the company’s cameras in their police cars.
It will cost the city about $100,000 for a five year lease agreement with the company. The first year will be paid out of the city’s drug fund. After that the police department will have to budget for it. City Manager David Plyman says the cameras will help protect the police as well from people who might make a false claim against them.