CHESAPEAKE, Va. (AP) - Chesapeake has seen a decline in complaints against police since it expanded the use of body cameras.
Citing police statistics, The Virginian-Pilot reports that there were 51 complaints in 2013, compared to 81 complaints in 2012. The number of complaints upheld declined from 24 in 2012 to 19 in 2013.
Two categories of complaints increased during the period. Racial-profiling complaints rose from five to 11, and procedural complaints increased from three to 14.
Police began using about 90 body cameras in 2008. In the past two years, the number has more than doubled.
A drawback of the cameras is the work that they create. Police department civilian support staff copies the videos onto compact discs. Videos are then reviewed by prosecutors and defense attorneys.
