Brooklyn Center police deploy body cameras

Brooklyn Center police have started using body cameras and implementing a policy that may differ from other police departments. Officer Cody Turner was among the first officers in the department to wear one of the devices.
"It's a little different, another piece of equipment to put on, but at the same time, the benefits far outweigh the cost of having it on our body," says Turner.
The department delayed getting body cameras for a few months until the upgraded version was available. The cameras are waterproof, have GPS and Wi-Fi, and are supposed to have a long battery life.
"Over 12 hours, they say up to 16 hours. Again with these types of cameras you have different resolutions you can have it set to,"explained Chief Tim Gannon.
The Panasonic cameras run tandem with cameras that are already installed in squad cars. The body cameras will automatically turn on when the red lights are activated or if the squad car goes over a certain speed.
Brooklyn Center police has a long list of requirements for when an officer is supposed to turn on the camera.
"On ongoing criminal activity, a confrontational situation with a citizen, any call they're being generated to go to a call," said Gannon."There could be discipline resulting from not activating your cameras."
Gannon says although officers have only been wearing the device for a few days, they are already seeing a difference.
"There's a situation already where we apprehended a subject that was hiding, that was all caught on body worn cameras. So there's no defense of that," said Gannon.
Officials say trust, accountability and public attitude come into focus with body cameras.
"Now when we show up they notice the camera," explained Turner. "Their behavior shows a distinct change from perhaps being a little more agitated or angry with us to a lot more calm and ready to answer questions."
Sonya Goins, reporting
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