LADY LAKE — The Lady Lake Police Department has implemented body cameras, department officials say, to protect both law enforcement officers and the community.
“When I arrived, I noticed we were lacking something in the field of contemporary police work,” Police Chief Steve Hunt said in a press release.
Hunt shared his concerns with the town commission, which supported efforts to purchase body cameras during the 2023-24 budget process.
The initiative is budgeted over five years and covers not only the new Axon brand body cameras, but also upgrading outdated TASERs and introducing a dash cam system to all police vehicles this spring. Bundling the technology and maintenance will save the town significant money over time.
According to the town’s spokesperson, the body cams are already in use. “The officers have been trained,” said Elisha Pappacoda, communications director for the Town of Lady Lake, adding that the commission was “wholehearted and unanimous” in its approval for budgeting the devices.