Michael Brown shooting: Ferguson police to wear body cameras

Police officers in Ferguson, Missouri, are now wearing body cameras after weeks of unrest over Michael Brown’s killing.

Michael Brown, 18, was shot multiple times by Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson on August 9, sparking nearly three weeks of angry protests in the St. Louis suburb and drawing global attention to race relations in the US.

Law enforcement and witnesses gave differing accounts of what transpired before Michael Brown was shot, with police saying the teen had struggled with the officer. Witnesses say Michael Brown held up his hands and was surrendering when he was shot multiple times in the head and chest.

The discrepancy has revived calls for officers across the county to be outfitted with body cameras to help capture an accurate record of police-involved incidents.

The policy has the support of scores of law enforcement agencies and the American Civil Liberties Union. Opponents say the cameras could be an invasion of privacy and deter people from approaching police with a tip.

During protests on Saturday, Ferguson officers began wearing small body cameras clipped to their uniforms that recorded crowds, conversations and even some taunts by demonstrators, a police official said on Sunday.

Ferguson Police Chief Tom Jackson told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch the cameras have been well received by officers.

The cameras were donated by two video surveillance companies, Safety Visions and Digital Ally. In a statement on its website, Safety Vision said it donated the cameras in the hopes that they could bring transparency to future investigations.

“The city of Ferguson has gone through an unfortunate series of events and Safety Vision body cameras and flashlight DVR will assist in capturing prima facie evidence for investigations involving vandalism, looting, and shots fired,” the statement said.

Some stores were looted in nightly protests, and police responded with riot gear and moved in military equipment to try to quell the turmoil.

A St. Louis County grand jury has begun hearing evidence about Michael Brown’s killing and the US Justice Department has opened its own investigation.