MEMPHIS, Tenn. –Four days after Memphis Police Department was supposed to debut body cameras, dash cameras and GPS in squad cars, WREG found out there are more tie ups.
Mayor Wharton and the department promised for the past several months the equipment would be on the street by September.
Now, the city won’t even give a timeframe.
City leaders said there was some issues with the contract, but that’s been taken care of.
The contracts were signed and now, MPD is working on how to get the equipment.
No one with MPD or Mayor Wharton’s office would go on camera.
They both blame contract issues, out of their control, for the delays
“We are not surprised. We were skeptical that this deadline would be kept in the first place,” said Paul Garner with Memphis United.
Garner has been an advocate for body cameras.
“We are kind of used to delays and excuses from this administration and this council,” said Garner.
City leaders say they ordered 2,150 body cameras, 900 dash cams and 900 GPS systems for squad cars.
In a statement sent to WREG today, a city spokesperson said, “MPD is currently going through the next steps with the appropriate parties,” and went on to say there’s “…no definitive time yet. MPD is still working with the vendor.”
“Disappointed, especially going into the holiday weekend. We have a lot of people coming in from out of town and some celebrating,” said Garner. “Sometimes things get dangerous. We want to make sure there’s a record.”