In 2010, Modesto police counted 43 citizen complaints against
its officers. Only 3 proved to be true.Now all patrol officers will
wear small cameras on their shirts.
Modesto police Lt. Rick Armendariz says the cameras will
provide a video record of every encounter.
"If a citizen comes in and makes a complaint regarding an
officer's rudeness and if it's captured, our agency will be able to
address that quicker," he says.
Armendariz adds that the camera recordings can also be used as
evidence in criminal trials.
"It's another thing when you are able to show a video and have
a jury see it firsthand, in essence, taking the jury to the
scene."
Armendariz says Modesto and Bay Area Rapid Transit police will
be the first 2 agencies in Northern California to start using the
cameras by mid-July.
"This is definitely the trend of the future," adds
Armendariz.
