Watch CBS News

Police Officers To Wear Cameras During Patrols

DENVER (CBS4)- Some police officers in Denver will be wearing cameras to record not only what they do and say, but to capture those who interact with them.

It's part of a pilot project that will be launching in the next couple of weeks.

The Denver Police Department has nearly two dozen police officers signed up to wear a camera during the two-month pilot program. No decisions will be made on whether the department will buy cameras for officers until the pilot program is completed.

"It will make officers more accountable to the things they do and say, but on the other hand, it will also make the public a little more cognizant on what they're saying," said Denver Police Lt. Matt Murray.

Denver Police Detective Ernie Martinez said both officers and the public can benefit from taped encounters.

"It's another piece that wasn't there before. So the camera provides very valuable information for the investigation," said Martinez.

During the pilot phase, officers testing the cameras will turn them on and off at their discretion until they're comfortable using them. At the end of each shift, the video is downloaded.

"Do I turn this on or do I turn this off? Those very seconds can be a detriment to the officer's safety and the safety of the citizens we're going to protect," said Martinez.

The video won't be released to the media or available to the public at will, but it could be evidence in court cases.

"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 saving time, investigative time, saving money down the road," said Martinez.

If the department decides to purchase the program, the overall cost would range from $100,000 to $500,000, depending on how many cameras and their capability.

View CBS News In
CBS News App
Chrome Safari
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.