Crime & Safety
Will Expanding Body Camera Program Help Chicago Police Rebuild Trust?
POLL: All officers will be wearing the devices by the end of 2018, but will it repair the damage done in the wake of the Paul O'Neal case?
CHICAGO — The Chicago Police Department's body camera program will expand over the next two years past the seven districts that were part of a 2015 pilot program, Superintendent Eddie Johnson announced over the weekend.
Officers in all the department's districts will be given cameras and be required to wear them by the end of 2018, according to a department statement. Districts also will receive system and structural upgrades to deal with with new camera equipment.
“Since becoming Superintendent I have pledged to rebuild public trust and accountability,” Johnson said in a statement. “Body-worn cameras provide a rare glimpse into the dangerous situations Chicago police officers face every day in an effort to keep our communities safe. They will also assist in our efforts to provide better training and community relations in all of the diverse neighborhoods we serve. This expansion is a win-win for the public and for officers.”
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RELATED: Chicago Rolls Out Police Body Camera Pilot Program
Expanding the program will cost the department about $8 million and will be partially funded by grants. Johnson didn't provide details during a Sundabout which districts will be getting the cameras first and when the expansion will begin.
Find out what's happening in Chicagofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The department admits that extending the program is an effort to create more transparency, especially in the wake of the Paul O'Neal case. In that incident, an 18-year-old was shot and killed by police in July during an investigation into a stolen car. Police dashboard and body cameras recorded the incident, but no cameras were working or available to catch O'Neal actually being shot.
RELATED: Paul O'Neal Shooting: Chicago Sees Another Controversial Police Video
YOUR TURN: Will expanding the Chicago Police Department's body camera program help the agency rebuild trust with the community? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments section. Plus, take Patch's poll on the topic.
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