Troubled Chester Begins Police Body Camera Program

A suburban Philadelphia city’s police department is rolling out a body camera program, a first step in the mayor’s vow to increase transparency in the force. The Chester Police Department’s move comes as it faces community criticism over use of force in the troubled city. A number of police-involved shootings caused outrage earlier this year, and Mayor Thaddeus Kirkland vowed to make changes. In May, the U.S. Justice Department launched a review of the police department at the city’s request. Kirkland announced Monday that a group of 10 patrol officers have volunteered to wear the body cameras during a trial period. The field-testing phase will go through the end of 2016. He says the cost to outfit the entire department with wearable cameras will be about $70,000 to $100,000.