Joe Nicholson, Intermin City Manager for the City Of Newport, has suggested after reviewing a recent Council Resolution that the Newport Police Department roll out a body worn camera pilot program.

Council Resolution 2015-57 “Investigating Body Cameras” was originally introduced by Councilor John Florez in May of 2015.

While originally reluctant to the proposal, Interim City Manager came to the conclusion to recommend the city move forward with a target date of July 2016 of a pilot program in an eight page memo that was shared with members of Newport City Council on Monday, January 11th.

The start up cost of the 10 camera program is estimated to cost less than $18,000. Each camera costs approximately $1,000 and data storage has a cost.

City officials are expected to host a meeting to discuss community impact, long-term cost, policy and procedures and privacy before rolling out the program.

Ryan Belmore is the Owner and Publisher of What'sUpNewp. Although not the founder or original owner, Belmore has been with What'sUpNewp since its early beginnings in 2012.

Belmore was born in Providence, Rhode Island; grew up and graduated high school in Coventry, Rhode Island; and lived in Newport, Rhode Island for more than ten years. He currently serves as Vice President of the Board Of Directors for Fort Adams Trust and on the Board of Directors for Potter League For Animals.

He and his wife, Jen, as well as their two dogs (Aero and June), recently moved to Alexandria, Virginia. Belmore travels back and forth to Newport every couple of weeks to cover events, work on story ideas, to meet with What'sUpNewp's on-the-ground contributors, to visit friends, and to eat as much seafood as possible.

Belmore is a member of Local Independent Online News Publishers, Society of Professional Journalists, and the North American Snowsports Journalists Association.

One reply on “Newport Police Department May Soon Roll Out Body Worn Camera Pilot Program”