Bill Would Require Body Cameras for Nevada Police

A Nevada state lawmaker said Monday that equipping police officers with body cameras could resolve disputes over allegations of unreasonable force before they morph into civil unrest as happened with a police shooting in Ferguson, Mo., last year, reports the Las Vegas Review-Journal .

Assemblyman Harvey Munford, D-Las Vegas, testified in support of Assembly Bill 162 that would mandate the use of the cameras by most law enforcement agencies in the state.

"The bill will not solve all of our problems between law enforcement and the community they protect," he said. "However, it is a start."

Outfitting Las Vegas police with the technology would be expensive, however, and could jeopardize the prospects for the bill.

A fiscal note from the Metropolitan Police Department says it would cost $9.2 million in the first year to buy the cameras for all Las Vegas police and Clark County Detention Center employees. Recurring charges are estimated at $6.6 million annually, a cost which would increase as the amount of required video storage increased.

The agency also said the bill is too broad because it would require cameras to be used by detectives and undercover officers.