NYPD to Roll Out Body Camera Pilot Program Friday

The New York Police Department (NYPD) Friday will join the growing list of police departments around the country that have begun wearing body cameras.

According to the New York Daily News:

On Friday, nine officers in each of three commands — the 40th Precinct in the Bronx, Police Service Area 2, a Housing Bureau post that covers East New York and Brownsville, and the 120th Precinct on Staten Island — will patrol wearing the cameras.

… In addition to vehicle stops, police must also turn on their cameras when they have reasonable suspicion to conduct a stop, when they are arresting someone or issuing a summons, when someone is being taken into custody, if force might be used or if the officer senses a situation could escalate.

“Almost universally, what you see is reforms in behavior of officers and reforms in behavior of the public,” Police Commissioner Bill Bratton told the Daily News of adding body cameras to his force. “The public sees the video, the complaint goes away. … Officers, they are much more conscious of their behavior.”