Within the next two or three weeks, the St. Louis County Police Department will equip all officers who answer support calls and the Division of Patrol with body cameras, about 500 officers in total.

Several cameras have already been delivered, but the police department is still waiting for servers and docking stations to download the data.

“Chief Jon Belmar has always wanted to use body cameras on officers well before the events in Ferguson unfolded,” Sergeant Brian Schellman, public information coordinator for the St. Louis County Police Department, said. “The events in Ferguson really pushed the department to move quicker to acquire these cameras.”

First, the department will equip officers in the North County Precinct, then the Central County precinct, Jennings, Dellwood and Tactical Operations. Eventually, all seven precincts will use body cameras.

Some cameras are worn in the middle of the chest with clipping above the buttons. Others are worn on the shoulder or can be possibly attached to sunglasses. Schellman said cameras will not be activated at all times, and they have a feature that pre-records the previous 30 seconds.

Schellman said the department has not yet decided how they will pay for the cameras.

“There are several companies with which we will test to see what best suits the department,” Schellman said. “The cameras we are currently receiving are being loaned by the companies for our ‘trial run.’”

Every officer who will use a camera will be trained on how they are worn, when to activate them, how to download the footage and when certain footage will be retained as evidence. Schellman said officers will follow a policy on when to activate their cameras.

“Body cameras will hold not only the police accountable for their actions, but also the citizens we serve on a daily basis,” Schellman said.

Brandon Bleyer, sophomore, said he thinks the police’s use of body cameras is an invasion of privacy.

“The fact that police officers are constantly monitored reflects the public’s preoccupation with their own safety over the greater good of society,” Bleyer said. “Police officers are less likely to enforce order if they’re worried about what they do.

Bleyer said he predicts the amount of unreported crime will go up because officers might be afraid of being ridiculed for the way they act.

Kolbie Sherrell, sophomore, said she thinks officers’ use of body cameras is very scary and is an invasion of her privacy.

“I know they’re trying to protect the people, but there’s a fine line between protection and being overbearing,” Sherrell said. “I see why they would want to wear cameras. It’s a ‘Catch 22.’ If something happens, then they have it on camera, but that’s really invading people’s privacy.