Madison City Police to Equip Officers with Body-Worn Cameras by End of 2027

Madison is planning to equip all city police officers with body-worn cameras by the end of 2027. This initiative follows discussions about how police body-worn cameras affect public trust, noting that Madison is one of the few major cities in Wisconsin without department-wide cameras. A $350,000 grant from the Madison Community Foundation will accelerate the rollout, though it does not cover the full cost. The Madison Police Department and the city will absorb the remaining expenses, and Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway plans to seek a federal grant for the capital cost of the more than 200 cameras needed.

The city is undertaking a major operational overhaul to introduce body-worn camera technology for its police force. The plan requires the city and the police department to fund the majority of the capital costs for the new equipment. This shift involves a significant, long-term operational commitment to modernizing police procedures.