UNM Police Department to implement body-worn cameras this fall

The University of New Mexico's police department will soon have another tool as part of its campus safety toolbox. Later this fall, UNM plans to implement body-worn cameras (BWCs). This initiative aims to enhance accountability, build public trust, and offer reliable documentation for complaints, investigations, and possible legal proceedings.

"The decision to do this says that we see body-worn cameras as a useful tool. This is something we want to do in order to promote both safety and trust by the community," said UNM Vice President for Finance Teresa Costantinidis. "We were never opposed to doing it. We weren't dug in and saying, 'no, this is not something we will do at the University of New Mexico.' It was choices and decisions that were made over time in terms of the limited resources that we had and how best to deploy them to support safety.

"We're now in a position where we're able to do it and we're enthusiastic about it. I have been involved with other police departments that implemented body-worn cameras and it actually was something that the officers themselves appreciated and were positive about. So, I'm hoping that happens here at the University of New Mexico."

University officials discussed the decision to implement body-worn cameras for several years as far back as 2020, but other campus safety initiatives and resources such as surveillance cameras and license plate readers among other safety measures delayed their implementation at UNM.

"At the time (2020), we focused on surveillance cameras," said Costantinidis. "Since then, we've implemented over 3,000 surveillance cameras on the UNM campus. The other thing that's important to note about the police at UNM is that they actually wear audio recording devices at all times. We already had the body-worn audio recording, so we didn't feel that it was essential to do the video recording, so we focused on surveillance cameras."

Next steps
UNM expects full implementation, which includes purchasing the equipment and training, in three to six months. The institution has already selected a vendor, Axon, to provide the cameras to the approximately 48 campus police officers. Axon is an American company based in Scottsdale, Ariz. that develops technology and products for military, law enforcement and civilians.

UNM has entered into a five-year contract with the company with a first-year, initial cost of $344,000. Subsequent years will cost $279,000. The program will also require hiring a full-time UNMPD officer to manage it. This officer will be involved in drafting policy, getting the program up and running, and managing it.

"We are taking the time to make sure we have the right policies and procedures in place," said Costantinidis. "Not only to protect our community and make sure that we are doing things the right way, but also that we are doing things in a way that the police are comfortable and happy to do.

Campus engagement
During the implementation phase, UNM plans to engage with the campus community about the new tool especially since it will impact members of the campus community. Since body-worn cameras record video, they are a bit different than an audio recording device.

"We have a campus that people view as their home, and we have dormitories, locker rooms, patient and clinical care settings where people would expect privacy," said Costantinidis. "We have to make sure we hear from the community as we roll out this tool so that we hear from them about concerns. We want to come up with policies and practices that everyone is comfortable with."

Interested members of the community can submit comments or questions about the body-worn cameras via this form, which will be open through Sept. 15.

Background
According to a 2018 U.S. Department of Justice report, the use of body-worn cameras has become an industry-standard in the police field. The findings were based on the 2016 Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics-Body-Worn Camera Supplement (LEMAS-BWCS) from the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS).

In 2015, a report by researchers at the University of Cambridge suggested that the implementation of body-worn cameras decreases use-of-force incidents by the police. These findings indicated use of force incidents were reduced by 60 percent after body cameras were introduced on about 70 officers, while officer complaints were reduced by 88 percent.

In New Mexico, a law requiring municipal law enforcement agents from cities, counties and the state to wear body-worn cameras, Senate Bill 8, passed in 2020 by the State Legislature. It went into effect in September 2020. It required body cameras to help provide video evidence while holding officers accountable, but research suggests they are also effective crime-fighting deterrents.

"UNMPD is committed to the safety of the campus community and community engagement," said UNM Chief of Police Joe Silva. "Body-worn cameras will help strengthen the level of trust between the UNM community and campus police and lend to the transparency the community is entitled to. I am looking forward to the benefits BWCs will provide in keeping our campus community safe."

"I think it's important that the people understand that UNM cares deeply about safety and security of all of its community, the students, the faculty, the staff, as well as members of the public who are here," added Costantinidis. "We have been striving and continue to strive as we go forward in doing everything we can to keep this community as safe as possible. And I'm very proud of the efforts that have gone on from so many different people from UNMPD to the others involved in safety at UNM to promote and protect this university and keep it as safe as possible."

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