After the recent incident that took place on Sept. 1, 2022, involving Cottage Grove police officers and a civilian, it is more clear than ever, that police worn body cameras would be beneficial for both community members, as well as local officers.

This isn’t a new issue to Cottage Grove, body worn cameras has been a matter of discussion in past City Council meetings in 2015 & 2016.  During these meetings it was discussed that the cameras would be beneficial for accountability, as well as defense for the officers. This discussion involved conversations about the costs of the cameras, as well as the storage of the captured data, however the discussion never moved beyond that, and funding was never set aside to purchase the equipment. We must urge our city officials to re-visit this discussion, and set aside and prioritize funding for a Body-Worn Camera Program for our CGPD officers, this is something that should’ve already been implemented a long time ago.

“Compliance and accountability should always be a top priority in law enforcement, especially as police brutality and community tensions continue to rise everywhere. Body-worn cameras serve as a tool to ensure that police actions are compliant and just. Advocacy groups such as the NAACP and ACLU support body cameras to enhance and protect civil rights. The Oregon State Police, Washington County Sheriff's Office, and Beaverton Police Department are among many Oregon agencies that already use body cameras.” (Petition to Ted Wheeler, Curtis) 

It is our job as a community to hold the police department accountable when we see injustice, and having access to body-worn camera footage can not only help with that goal, but can also help to build trust between civilians and their local law enforcement. It’s time Cottage Grove join with other Oregon law enforcement agencies, and purchase the equipment necessary to keep our community safe.