FINDLAY, Ohio — Updates are underway at the Ohio State Highway Patrol post in Findlay to install some new technology into cruisers and outfit state troopers with new body cameras.
"We're installing our Axon camera system, which includes our body cams, dash cams and our backseat cameras for our troopers here in northwest Ohio," OSHP Sgt. Ryan Purpura said.
More than 1,000 troopers will be getting new body cameras.
"When the trooper activates their overhead lights the dashcam will kick back and go on with no audio," Sgt. Purpura said. "When a trooper makes a traffic stop and they open their car door, the body cam will kick on and go back 90 seconds with no audio, and the back seat camera will not kick on until you open the back door."
It's a five-year plan and $15 million project coming out of the patrol's operational budget. The goal for the system is to help with crash investigations, drunk driving cases, day-to-day interactions as well as continuing to build a relationship with the public.
"It just increases our commitment to the public, our transparency to the public and just making us a more transparent agency," Sgt. Purpura said.
There are 124 cruisers at the Findlay post in line to receive new cameras. They're expected to be installed by the end of the month.