Colorado Springs State Troopers first to get body worn cameras in statewide rollout

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Colorado Springs State Troopers are the first in the agency to get body-worn cameras, as Colorado State Patrol rolls out the technology in response to state legislation.

State law requires all local law enforcement agencies to outfit their officers with the cameras by July 2023. State Patrol plans to complete its rollout statewide by the end of January 2023.

"There are a lot of different agencies that have been using this for a long time," said Gary Cutler, a Colorado Master Trooper. "California Highway Patrol has had it out there for years. So we're kind of playing catch up on that part, but all of Colorado right now is in some form playing catch up with the new bill."

The Colorado Springs State Troopers wore the cameras for the first time Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022. The troopers say it's a change they are still adjusting to.

"There's a couple of different ways to look at it," said Cutler. "Those of us that have been on a long time that has never had to deal with cameras like this other than in our dash cams, and then there's new troopers that this is going to be just the way it is for them."

Though it's a larger adjustment for long-time troopers, Cutler says overall there is optimism about the new technology.

"You think that Big Brother is looking at you, but if you really look deep down at it, what it is, it's helping to protect us and the public as well," said Cutler.

The remainder of the states' troopers will get body cams by the end of January.