KWCH - Kansas News and Weather - Dash Cam Meeting Positive

Dash Cam Meeting Positive

(WICHITA, Kan.)

For four years, Sunflower Community Action and the City of Wichita expressed frustration with each other.  Members of Sunflower said the city wouldn't listen to their argument for more dash cameras in police cars.  The city said Sunflower wouldn't listen to the argument there just wasn't enough money.

That changed on Wednesday.

Sunflower has campaigned for dash cams since 2005 saying it would make citizens and police more accountable.

The group met with Wichita City Manager Bob Layton, City Council Member Lavonta Williams, and a representative from Congressman Todd Tiahrt's office Wednesday morning.  All parties say they left the meeting encouraged.

"What we've been told over the years is it's a funding issue," says Sunflower President Monty Shaw, "so basically, what we're trying to do is take the funding question out of the equation."

Williams says in the struggling economy, Wichita has no plans right now to use city money on dash cams.  However, eight Wichita patrol cars are currently equipped with the cameras, and police will put together a one-year report in October.  Williams says if the report is positive, the city will likely look into federal grants.

"I phrase them more along the lines of a delicacy," Williams says of dash cameras.  "You go to the store and you see those things that you really, really want, but there's something you can't get right now."

Williams says the city is more focused on funding to make sure the police department doesn't have to lose any personnel.

Regardless of whether the city gets funding soon for more dash cams, both sides say they'll be listening to each other when decision time arrives.