BARTOW, Fla. — Bartow police officers will soon be equipped with body and dash cameras.
What You Need To Know
- Bartow city approved $2.1 million to purchase body and dash cameras, making Bartow the sixth police department in Polk County to use them
- The decision came after Pastor Don’Tavius Sanders accused an officer of racial profiling and being wrongfully searched during a July traffic stop
- The cameras are expected to be in place by Jan. 1
City commissioners recently approved $2.1 million for the purchase, making Bartow the sixth police department in Polk County to use them. Others include Lakeland, Haines City, Winter Haven, Lake Wales and Lake Hamilton.
“They’re a great tool for us. They help with the report writing, they help document what actually occurs, there’s no question about what occurred,” Bartow Police Chief Stephen Walker said.
Walker said he first asked the City Commission for body and dash cams in 2024, but at the time they didn’t fit within the city’s budget. Commissioners approved the purchase from vendor Axon after a presentation on Aug. 18 that demonstrated the cameras’ benefits and functions.
The decision followed a July traffic stop involving the pastor of St. James AME Church, Don’Tavius Sanders, who said he was racially profiled and wrongfully searched.
Sanders said he was driving from the church following a memorial service when Bartow police officer Darren Freeman pulled him over for a broken license plate light. He said Freeman forcefully searched his vehicle for narcotics without cause and called in a K-9 unit for backup. Nothing was found, and no citations were issued.
According to a police report, Freeman said he attempted to issue two citations for Sanders’ tag light and window tint, but the option to print the citations was unavailable on E-Cite. While the use of a K-9 unit during the traffic stop was permissible under the law, Walker said he has since modified the department’s policy.
During a rally on behalf of Sanders, Walker assured community members and church leaders he would make more changes to his department — a promise Sanders said he is glad to see coming to pass.
“Because it gives a sense of accountability for our officers and a sense of protection for our citizens, as well as a sense of protection for those persons who put their lives on the line every day when they put on that uniform,” Sanders said.
Walker agreed, adding that he hopes the cameras will also help build more trust within the community.
“We’re partners with our community, that’s how we do our job. It’s the only way we can do our job. And so, we have to have that trust from them and it’s my job to make sure we have that trust,” he said.
Walker said payments for the body and dash cameras will be spread out over five years, starting in fiscal year 2025-26, which begins Oct. 1. The goal is to have the devices up and running by Jan. 1.
Alexis Jones
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