Body Cameras Could Become A New Standard

BURNSVILLE, Minn. (AP) - Police in the Twin Cities suburb of Burnsville say they are first in the state to embrace new technology that records an officer's every move.

About 20 officers have been using body cameras that attach to their hats. The small video recording devices capture every arrest,every traffic stop and vehicle search.

A suspect recently accused an officer of using excessive force for handcuffing him too tightly. But Burnsville Chief Bob Hawkins says the video recording showed the officer placing a finger inside
the cuffs to verify that they weren't too tight. Instead of a lengthy internal investigation, the allegation was settled in short order after the arrest video was reviewed.

Burnsville administrator Tom Hansen tells the Star Tribune the equipment should become standard in a few years.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

This is how the video looks from a body camera.