The Newtown Police Commission is backing the idea of using body cameras.  The Newtown Bee reports that at the Commission meeting on Tuesday night, members said that equipping the department would be a good idea and would likely exonerate police in the vast majority of contested cases. 

Some issues that have come up for other departments using the cameras include the lens being blocked, depth perception challenges and privacy concerns. 

Newtown currently has dashboard cameras in police cruisers.  The Department has 45 officers, 43 of whom are represented by the Newtown Police Union, which opposes the use of body cameras. 

The state General Assembly took up the matter during the recently completed session and will offer grants to local departments to purchase body cameras.