After a period of a little more than two years, communities like Boardman Township are seeing the impact of body camera use by officers in their every day work routines.

The department brought in the cameras at the beginning of 2022 with funding through several grants, costing more than $200,000. 

Boardman Police Chief Todd Werth says it was a worthwhile investment.

"I think they've been very effective. The officers have embraced them," Werth said. "I think it's great for transparency for our department. It helps us in a lot of different ways," he said.

Werth tells 21 News the cameras help the officers and the public.

"We have pretty straightforward evidence when an officer is involved, and maybe an officer is assaulted, or something to that effect and also it gives me the ability to answer questions," said Werth. "So if a community member, either Boardman resident or somebody's visiting the community has an issue or question or even a problem with how an officer handles situation, it's pretty straightforward to view the video and kind of maybe explain to that person why the officers actions were that way or we make internal corrections," he said.

Werth said they've used the cameras in multiple different avenues, not just in the field.

"It's helped us in prosecution of cases, it's helped us with training, it's helped us with resolving any kind of complaints, things like that," Werth said.

Werth said it's important that the community helps to keep the body cameras around for the sake of everyone.

"It's just not as simple as saying, 'well, we're gonna have body cameras,' we've had to hire additional records clerks to keep up with those requests and again, that's something that we're seeing a very big increase," said Werth. "So when you have a program like body cameras, the costs associated with that, I think, you know, that's something that the public has to support us on, if we're going to have this technology, have this kind of at our fingertips help with that transparency," he said.