TOP STORY >> Body cameras for police

Jacksonville Police Chief Kenny Boyd (from left) and Capt. Matt McCollough accept a check for $5,000 for the purchase of body cameras from state Sen. Linda Chesterfield on Thursday at city hall.

State Sen. Linda Chesterfield (D-Little Rock) presented a check for $5,000 to the Jacksonville Police Department on Thursday at the city council meeting.

Accepting the check were Police Chief Kenny Boyd and Capt. Matt McCollough.

The money from the state General Improvement Funds will be used by JPD to purchase 10 body cameras.

Chesterfield’s district includes a portion of Jacksonville.

She said Maumelle requested additional money for body cameras, and she read that Jacksonville needed the same thing.

“I just wanted to help. I’ve seen what is happening around the nation. It is an honor just to be able to contribute something,” Chesterfield said.

“I’m proud of our police department and that they want to have body cameras that will even more enhance the appreciation of what they do. The more we can build trust, the greater opportunity it is to serve our constituency base,” the senator explained.

Police Chief Kenny Boyd said, “Our goal was have 52 cameras. Now every officer in an enforcement position will be assigned a body camera.”