By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com
The Justice Department plans to help police departments equip officers with body cameras, The Washington Post reports.
The DOJ is launching a pilot program to determine the impact of the cameras, which come at a time when protesters nationwide are accusing police of unlawful force and racism.
The plan is to spend nearly $20 million on cameras for dozens of departments.
“This body-worn camera pilot program is a vital part of the Justice Department’s comprehensive efforts to equip law enforcement agencies throughout the country with the tools, support, and training they need to tackle the 21st century challenges we face,” Attorney General Loretta Lynch said in a statement.
Lynch said the idea is to learn what really happens when accusations are made.
“Body-worn cameras hold tremendous promise for enhancing transparency, promoting accountability, and advancing public safety for law enforcement officers and the communities they serve,” Lynch said.
A separate task force found that body cameras reduce the use of force by police.
“Now that agencies operate in a world in which anyone with a cell phone camera can record video footage of a police encounter, [body cameras] help police departments ensure that events are also captured from an officer’s perspective,” the report stated.
