The Alexandria Police Department (APD) does not currently require officers to wear body cameras while on duty. This petition requests that Mayor Justin Wilson and the City Council immediately outfit all on-duty officers with body-worn cameras. Body-worn cameras are essential for keeping our community safe and holding law enforcement accountable. If you are looking for a way to channel your anger into positive change, sign this petition and reach out directly to Mayor Wilson here. 

In 2015, the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing released their final report (Read it here) making recommendations to police departments nationwide. According to a 2019 report by the APD (Read it here), the only recommendation APD has not addressed is the use of body-worn cameras because of cost concerns. As recently as February of 2020, APD Chief of Police Michael Brown stated that cost is still the main factor preventing implementation (Watch the video here).

According to the Department of Justice, “BWCs can be highly effective resources, providing an unalterable audio and visual record of interactions that capture empirical evidence in the event of a crime, police-citizen interaction, or use-of-force incident” (Source). 

These benefits far outweigh the monetary cost of body-worn cameras. Demand Alexandria’s local leaders protect our community today and invest in body-worn cameras.