By Dan Murphy
As the City of Yonkers moves forward with plans to purchase and the implementation of body cameras for police officers on patrol, some Westchester residents are calling for their local police departments to do the same. Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano, Council President Mike Khader, and Majority Leader Corazon Pineda-Isaac all support and have called for body cams for cops. “
You spoke. I listened,” said Mayor Spano. “ Since the beginning of my administration, I have advocated for body cameras. Now, because of your collective voices, we are working with the Yonkers Police Department, Yonkers Police unions, and U.S. Department of Justice, on closing in on a deal to bring body cameras to The City of Yonkers.”
During the last Yonkers City Council meeting before summer recess, Majority Leader Pineda-Issac was the lead sponsor of a resolution that she had pushed forward in 2015, which urges Mayor Spano to mandate body camera use for YPD patrol officers.
Five years ago, Pineda-Isaac’s resolution did not pass, and Yonkers did not get body cameras for its police patrol. But five years later, and after watching the tragedies of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery unfold on camera, Yonkers will soon be the first Westchester city to have police body cameras.
“As a woman of color, as the wife of a black man in America, and as the mom of black sons, I stand in support of those calling for justice for the murder of George Floyd. My sons are still very young, but I’m not looking forward to the difficult, but necessary, conversation about race in America that one day soon I’ll have to have with them. I hope this country can one day get to a place where such conversations are no longer necessary,” said Pineda-Isaac.
“In 2105, I understood there was a disconnect between police and people of color. It’s important for the community to work together with the police and I think that body cameras would help build that trust. Everything I felt then I feel now, and it’s even more important now.
“In 2015, there was a republican majority on the council and my resolution didn’t pass. This time around the will of the council is there, and support from the community and our residents is also there. I’m excited that conversations are happening and we are getting close to making it happen,” said Majority Leader Pineda-Isaac.
Another reason Yonkers didn’t get police body cameras in 2015 was that it became a negotiated item with the Police union. This time it appears that the Yonkers PBA will let it happen.
The cost of implementation is expected to be $1.7 Million to purchase 400 camera, and then $1.2 Million per year for data storage and software costs. Recently the NYS Senate and Assembly have passed bills requiring the State police to wear body cameras. Other Weestchester communities will be having the same debate soon.
