Madison Mayor Backs 220 Police Body Cameras by 2029 After Corey Ruiz Shooting

1 articles · Updated · WPR · Jul 27

$414,784 over three years would fund a phased rollout of 220 body cameras, with Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway now backing department-wide adoption after Corey Ruiz was fatally shot last week.
Madison police currently limit body cameras to SWAT and motorcycle officers, leaving DOJ investigators without officer-perspective footage in the Ruiz case; four officers are on leave while the state investigates.
Rhodes-Conway said high cost had been her main objection, but Police Chief John Patterson lowered estimates and made body-camera funding his top budget request.
Common Council approval is still required, though Council President Sabrina Madison said community sentiment has shifted after years of failed proposals and a 17-3 defeat of a 2025 funding amendment.
Ruiz's family and police advocates say bystander video underscored the gap in evidence, turning a long-running debate over privacy, surveillance and trust into a more urgent push for cameras.