The Marco Island City Council is split over a newly proposed plan to equip the city’s police force with body-worn cameras. The proposal, brought forward by newly elected Councilwoman Tamara Goehler during Tuesday evening's meeting, has sparked debate over transparency, accountability, and the cost to taxpayers.
“I am proposing that Marco Island police should wear body cameras ... As a matter of fact, this is the first place I’ve ever lived where police don’t wear body cameras, to tell the truth," said Goehler.
In a proposal obtained by NBC2, Councilwoman Goehler believes body-worn cameras would have the following benefits:
- Transparency and accountability for residents, tourists, and police officers.
- Enhance safety for civilians.
- Create valuable evidence for future potential criminal cases.
- Assist in police training.
- Strengthen public trust in law enforcement.
“They provide an objective record of interactions and hold everyone accountable for their actions,” said Goehler during Tuesday's meeting.
The initiative would require an estimated $300,000 to outfit the city’s 37-officer police department with body cameras.
“There’s a lot of other ways ... if we had $300,000 in the safest city in Florida, I don’t think it’s necessary,” said Councilwoman Deb Henry.
Henry also questioned whether Goehler’s proposal stemmed from a personal incident. In December, Goehler faced public criticism during a council meeting after Marco Island police said she allegedly entered a family’s home, past a police officer, following an incident where her dog bit a 13-year-old girl.
“I don’t know if you want bodycams because of your particular situation,” Henry said during the meeting.
Goehler denied any connection between the proposal and the incident.
In addition to personal incidents, other council members raised practical concerns about the feasibility of the proposal, and logistical challenges.
“How many communities in Florida have them? How many do not? What is the yearly startup cost? Yearly maintenance? How are we paying for them?” asked Councilman Darrin Palumbo.
Talks were simply preliminary at Tuesday's meeting, but City Manager Mike McNees did give the public clarity on how a plan like this would be hashed out. The city manager asked the city council to return to their summer budget hearing for the 2025 fiscal year with a cost-benefit analysis, comparing other departments such as Naples police and the Collier County Sheriff's Office.
“There’s a lot of advantages to having body cams, but there’s a lot of reasons why you wouldn’t want them,” said McNees.
The proposal comes as other Florida cities, such as Naples, have recently adopted body cameras. Naples approved a $1.7 million investment in 2024 to equip its police department with body cameras, tasers, and other equipment, covering a force more than double the size of Marco Island’s.
The discussion is expected to continue in the summer months.