Peoria police department buys 54 body cameras for officers

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) - As part of a pilot program to test their effectiveness in the field, the Peoria Police Department has purchased 54 body cameras.

The program will run for the next six months and the department plans to evaluate information gathered to determine if body cameras should be implemented agency-wide.

Police say the cameras can be used to gather useful evidence that strengthen cases, protect officers in the field and provide additional accountability.

Officers will upload the contents of their cameras at the end of each shift to a management system for storage and processing.

Peoria police officials say the department purchased the 54 body cameras for about $32,000.