Six Boardman officers are currently field testing cameras from three different companies.

They are looking at dependability, durability and affordability, according to police chief, Todd Werth.

Worth says the cams are becoming a necessity for all police departments.

"They help us with transparency, help us with memorializing our interactions with the public. Video evidence is phenomenal for the prosecution side of what we do," said Werth.

It's not a simple decision because it's not just the cameras alone they have to consider. Their biggest expense is the storage of the thousands of hours of video footage and how they can access it.

"We are trying to look at how we can employ these in our department without bringing on additional administrative costs and we are kind of on the fence with that and that is part of our testing process," said Werth.

The department also has to figure out the best way to use them. It's not as simple as just wearing them.

"Our policy on how we wear them, where we wear them, when they are turned on,when they are not turned on, all those different aspects, how we disseminate it, how we respond to those requests, there's a lot that goes behind that. Battery life does not allow you the ability to have them on all the time," added Werth.

The chief says they will continue testing the cameras for the next few weeks before they make a final decision on what company they will choose.

Werth said he expects them to be operational department-wide sometime near the end of July.