DC officers begin wearing body cameras

WASHINGTON (AP) — Police in the nation’s capital will begin wearing cameras Wednesday to record them as they perform their duties and interact with the public.

It’s part of a $1 million pilot program that D.C. Metro Police Chief Cathy Lanier says will enhance safety for officers and the public and make investigations more efficient.

More than 160 officers will be outfitted with the cameras, but Lanier says she hopes to expand that to the entire department within three years.

Lanier says supervisors who investigate complaints against officers will be able to use the videos to look at what happened at the scene of an arrest or traffic stop. She says the cameras will ensure that both officers and the public behave better.

The city’s police union also supports the camera program.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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