CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago says it’s expanding a program to provide police officers with body cameras.
A Sunday statement from Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s office follows the release last week of a squad-car video showing an officer fatally shooting teenager Laquan McDonald. The officer wasn’t wearing a body camera.
Chicago will expand the program into six more police districts in 2016. Emanuel says the expansion into one-third of the city will “strengthen the fabric of trust” between officers and city residents.
The statement doesn’t mention McDonald or demonstrations in recent days calling for sweeping police reforms.
Chicago’s pilot body-camera program began in January and just 30 cameras are currently being tested. Sunday’s statement says the expansion will be paid for with a $1.1 million federal grant and $1.1 million in matching city funds.