A close-knit community, Muskegon Heights, Michigan, is home to more than 10,000 residents. Once a thriving commercial and residential hub, it was hit hard by the economic downturn. Poverty made the area vulnerable to drugs and gang warfare, pushing violent crime rates to four times that of the national average. At the same time, budgetary constraints put pressure on the Muskegon Heights Police Department to do more with less. The department’s number of officers remained lean, and turnover was high.

Once Chief Dr. Joseph E. Thomas, Jr. took over the Muskegon Heights Police Department in 2016, his aim was to revitalize the agency and make the necessary changes to keep the streets safe and prepare Muskegon Heights for a promising future. During a recession, agencies tend to shy away from spending on technology. Not so with Chief Thomas: “My formal education has taught me that the best practice is to invest in technology, when there’s a reduction in personnel and resources.” With his mind set on rebuilding trust and accountability in the community, Chief Thomas embarked on a journey to acquire a body-worn camera solution.

Body-worn cameras can serve as extra eyes and ears in the field. Police can identify suspects who flee a scene to later call them in for questioning. Transparency created by the cameras also serves as a powerful tool for both the public and the police. “Video from a body-worn camera can put a different light on the incident, by telling the entire story.”