WPD tests new body cams during 77th Azalea Festival

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY)– On Monday, we brought you a story about Wilmington Police Department’s new body cameras, and how they can assist our local law enforcement. Especially during large events.

WWAY got a firsthand look at them in action for the Azalea Festival. 

The AXON Body 3 allows officers to livestream their body cam directly back to police headquarters.  

According to Captain John Musacchio, the cameras allow for better decision making during large events or emergency situations.  

“It’s actually good for up here so that we can actually get the birds-eye view of what’s happening and be able to see what the officer’s feeling and what they may be getting into,” he said.

Musacchio adds that during an active situation, traffic cams can’t always offer a clear picture of what’s going on if an officer is unable to communicate on radio or phone.  

“The cameras we have downtown and some DMV cameras we don’t always have a camera in that location, so we can’t see incidents when we set up incident command,” he said.

Lieutenant Greg Willett added that having the best information available is vital to making better decisions from the command center.  

“You have to make decisions on the fly, or you have to make decisions based on the best information you have at the time,” he said. “Well, with the ability to livestream from these cameras, that provides an additional source, or resource of information.”  

Lt. Willett also notes the new technology doesn’t just benefit law enforcement. For large events like the NC Azalea Festival on Saturday, the command center is helmed by more than just police.

“It often times involves law enforcement, fire, EMS, emergency management. So yeah, it benefits everybody. It really helps with a coordinated effort,” he said.  

Though, the cameras aren’t always live streaming. They have to be already recording, which could be started by the officer themselves, or by certain actions like pulling their gun out of its holster.

Lt. Willett said this is the police department’s first big event with the cameras.