In a move that has the ACLU's approval, the Denver Police Department will be piloting the use of body cameras for better patrol documentation.
The cameras, sometimes known as cop-cams or Body-Worn Digital Recording Devices, will record audio and video of police and civilian interactions. The device is about the size of a pager and can be clipped onto police uniforms or worn as a headset. The department plans to test the devices over a two-month period on 23 of its patrolmen.
In a media statement, the ACLU expressed their initial approval with the decision:
Nearly a month ago, the ACLU of Colorado and our Race to Justice coalition partners urged Mayor Michael Hancock to adopt body-worn cameras for the Denver Police Department in response to the myriad instances of police misconduct and excessive use of force. The ACLU is pleased to see that the Administration is now adopting policies to help restore public trust in our law enforcement agencies by providing much-needed transparency and accountability. Like other public documents, these recordings will inform additional policy changes that ensure our law enforcement officers focus on protecting public safety.
Until now the only cameras used by Denver's police department have been those in the H.A.L.O. (High Activity Location Observation) surveillance system. Though controversial at first, earning even ACLU's skepticism when they were first employed, the H.A.L.O. system has captured at least two incidents of police brutality including Mark Ashford and Michael DeHerrera.
During the pilot, police may turn off the cameras at will, but Lt. Matt Murray says that one day if the testing goes well, they may be on all the time. The footage will not be available to the public or the media, but could provide more detail in legal discovery.
"It's another piece that wasn't there before, so it can provide very valuable information for the investigation," Detective Ernie Martinez told CBS4 News. "It's another tool that we could definitely benefit not only from documenting our actions but also from the prosecution side to provide more evidence maybe possibly saving time, investigative time and saving money down the road."
If Denver decides to buy the cameras, could cost between $100,000-500,000 depending on how many cameras are bought.