On Friday, the Tucson Police Department will start training more officers how to use a body camera.
With funding from Prop 101, TPD was able to get 300 more cameras.
This nearly triples the number of cameras the department has access to -- the goal is to have every patrol officer equipped with one by the new year.
During the training, officers will learn how and when the cameras should be used when responding to calls.
TPD says these cameras are so important to allow people to see the officer's perspective, but the cameras don't paint the full picture.
"The public tends to look at body-worn cameras as if they are evidence and that is not really their purpose," said Sgt. Christopher Andreacola." Their purpose of body-worn cameras is to protect everybody at a scene that is both the public and the officer."
Officers we spoke with say they realize this doesn't represent the entire picture when officers respond to a call, but having the camera should help provide some transparency-especially in cases where officers fire their weapons.
These 300 new cameras were paid for by prop 101--the half-cent sales tax increase that will last for the next five years.
For each household, that averages out to about 3 dollars a month.
The police department is not the only organization benefitting. Taxpayer money is also going towards the Tucson Fire Department and road repairs.
