Los Angeles to buy 7,000 body cameras for police officers

Saying that "trust is built on transparency," Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said on Tuesday that the city would purchase 7,000 body cameras for police officers.

The cameras "are not a panacea, but they are a critical part of the formula," Garcetti said. "They're a great step forward." For several months, the L.A. Police Commission has been raising private money for body cameras, the Los Angeles Times reports, and more than $1 million has been collected.

Advocates say that the cameras will guard against officer misconduct and can clear officers falsely accused of wrongdoing. "There are more and more advantages of having cameras than we've ever thought," said Steve Soboroff, president of the Police Commission. "It's music to the ears of the LAPD and law enforcement and the community."

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