![Every Cleveland patrol car will get a new dashboard camera. [Tony Ganzer / ideastream]](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6b5e03b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1000x750+0+0/resize/840x630!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Flegacy%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F12%2F29%2Fpolice%20car.jpg)
The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office and the Cleveland Police signed an agreement this week that will provide up to half a million dollars to install dashboard cameras in the city’s police cruisers.
The dashboard cameras will go in every one of Cleveland’s almost 275 patrol cars.
Prosecutor Timothy McGinty says they held out for the top of the line model which features 360-degree views. And, they’ll sync with police officer’s body cameras—something few cities can boast.
"We have put in every police car in the city of Cleveland an unblinking eyewitness who can recall precisely every second and every step of each action and every single word spoken including tone," said McGinty.
He says that record will help keep both police officers and criminals more accountable. He believes the dashcams will reduce misconduct complaints and increase convictions, which will ultimately boost public confidence and safety.
The money for the cameras comes from what’s called a criminal forfeitures fund, containing money seized from those convicted of crimes like robbery or embezzlement. McGinty said he loves using criminals’ own money to buy equipment like the dashboard cameras, which he hopes will help reduce crime even more.