San Jose City Council to consider body cameras for police

SAN JOSE (KGO) -- The body camera debate will go before the San Jose City Council today. Members are expected to move ahead with a pilot program that could start next year.

There have been several high-profile officer involved shootings across the country the past year alone.

Body cameras are intended to improve accountability. If the San Jose City Council decides to move forward, San Jose would be one of the largest Bay Area agencies to equip officers with body cameras.

There are 460 cameras that have been issued to officers in Oakland. Even though the San Francisco Police Department purchased more than 150 body cameras, administering them is a costly expense.

At this time no SFPD officers wear a camera. The SJPD tested them out in 2009 and 2012, but never got past the pilot stage.

The police chief says they are still working with the union to outline a policy that would not infringe on officers' rights.