BELHAVEN — The Belhaven Police Department gave an update to the Board of Aldermen at Monday’s meeting about the body cameras it ordered and just received.

Sporting one himself, Chief F.P. Clingenpeel gave a short demonstration of how the body cameras work, explaining the basic functions of it to the board.

He said at this point he will be the only one using a camera until the department ensures the officers know how to use them properly and the system is running smoothly.

“We’re working out some bugs,” Clingenpeel said, adding that the process will likely take about a week and a half. “I want to make sure that we understand the cameras.”

The body cameras sync with the user’s smartphone app via Bluetooth, so video feed can be accessed instantaneously. The body camera must be in close proximity to the smartphone with the app due to the short range of Bluetooth.

Essentially, the app shows what the camera films, he said.

Clingenpeel said the camera beeps every two minutes to alert both the officer and the other party that they’re being recorded.

“I’m thinking they’re going to last a full shift,” he said, adding that these are the same body cameras the Los Angeles Police Department uses. “The docking station (to charge the cameras) is connected directly to our server and directly to the Internet.”

Clingenpeel also thanked the community for working together in light of the recent gang activity arrests in Belhaven on Sept. 7, in which the police department and Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office arrested 10 suspects in the span of an hour.

“The response that we’ve received from Belhaven, I don’t think you could get anywhere else and it’s refreshing,” he said. “Belhaven cares for its own. …That speaks to the health of the community.”

At the meeting, Town Manager Woody Jarvis praised the department’s efforts at transparency and positive community relationships.

“The cameras are part of that,” he said.

According to former interim town manager Steve Noble, the body camera system will cost the town about $26,700 over the course of a five-year contract that includes a total of 18 military-grade cameras, three docking stations, a warranty, free upgrades and Cloud backup storage

“I still believe it was a good investment,” Clingenpeel said. “I think it’s going to be a great help.”