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WASHINGTON (AP) — Agents with an investigative unit Department of Homeland Security Officials said Tuesday they will be wearing body cameras for the first time as part of a six-month pilot program that will focus on the costs and benefits of using the technology in federal law enforcement.
One official told reporters that the cameras will be used during testing by 55 members of the SWAT-like special response teams at the National Security Investigations in Houston, Newark, New Jersey and New York.
Homeland Security Investigations, which focus on transnational federal crimes such as drug and human trafficking and fraud, is a component of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency, better known as ICE.
Speaking to reporters on the condition of anonymity to provide details about the program prior to the announcement, the senior ICE official said the agency expects to later expand the pilot to include officers handling immigration enforcement arrests.
Although the program is only a test, it represents an expansion of the use of a technology already widely used in state and local law enforcement. In September, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives agents in Phoenix and Detroit became the first federal officers to wear body cameras, and other agencies were expected to do the same.
“With its body-worn camera pilot, ICE is making an important statement that transparency and accountability are key components of our ability to fulfill our law enforcement mission and keep communities safe.” DHS Minister Alejandro Majorkas said while announcing the programme.
Special agents with Homeland Security Investigations are expected to use body cameras when carrying out actions such as making pre-planned arrests, questioning suspects and executing search warrants, the official said.
The official said the footage will be made available to defense attorneys in criminal cases as part of the discovery process, as well as to a more limited degree and with restrictions to others under the Freedom of Information Act.
The pilot program aims to evaluate the cost of the program and the effectiveness of the equipment, and a summary of the findings is expected to be published.
DHS ICE is negotiating some aspects of the program with the union representing enforcement officers, and officials have not said when this part of the pilot will begin.
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