Chester police officers taking part in body cam program

Police officers in Chester, Delaware County, are going to start wearing body cameras as part of a pilot program.

According to the city, "A group of 10 patrol officers have volunteered to wear the body-worn cameras during the trial period, which is scheduled to last through the end of 2016. The field-testing phase will allow for these officers to properly assess the effectiveness of each vendor's equipment. Officer participation in the pilot program was granted upon completion of training sessions on the usage of the vendor's equipment."

The Chester Police Department has an agreement with Taser International to use its Axon Body Cameras and digital evidence management, data storage system for a 90-day trial period.

At the same time, police and city officials will keep meeting with other vendors to evaluate their equipment and performance within other police departments. Then, they may participate in the pilot program.

When other vendors participate, the volunteering officers will go through mandatory training sessions with each company.

The city said it could cost $70,000 to $100,000 to outfit the entire department with body-worn cameras. The city has received a $10,000 donation from Vahan Gureghian, founder and CEO of CSMI, specifically designated for the body-camera initiative.