Seventy U.S. Capitol Police officers began wearing body cameras Tuesday as part of a six-month pilot program to promote public trust in law enforcement.
The program has equipped 70 volunteer police officers with cameras. The agency said most of its employees work outside of the Capitol chambers because they have a lot of public interaction.
“We believed the cameras would do two things: First, they would remind the public of just how difficult the law enforcement profession is,” Commissioner Tom Munger said. statement. “Secondly, the cameras also showcase the great work that police do every day. It’s a great accountability tool for everyone.”
The cameras, which must be manually activated, are intended to record all official law enforcement activities. Eleven USCP cruisers were also equipped with dashcams that recorded automatically.
The agency said body cameras will not be used inside the Capitol or during interactions with lawmakers “to protect members’ constitutional obligations.”
After a six-month pilot, USCP leadership will analyze the practicality and usage of body cameras across the department.
The program comes after a comprehensive review of security at the Capitol following the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. The report recommended measures to add fencing to the area, increase staffing, and increase transparency and accountability.
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