After years of planning, research and testing, conservation officers and park rangers with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources have been outfitted with a body-worn camera and trained how to use it.
The cameras, however, don’t look like a typical body camera. Instead, DNR officers will be carrying smartphones and using an app that enables the phone to act as a body worn camera.
“I think we’re one of the first (agencies) in Iowa to be using this technology,” said Capt. Matt Bruner, a conservation officer with the DNR Law Enforcement Bureau. “Some other fishing and game agencies, and some other sheriff’s offices around the country have been using them. And that’s kind of how we learned about them.”