Minneapolis Police Department Announces New Body Camera Policy

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minneapolis officials say they’ll require police officers to turn on their body cameras when responding to all calls and whenever they initiate traffic stops or take other actions.

Acting Police Chief Medaria Arradondo told reporters Wednesday that the change will take effect Saturday.

The change follows the shooting by Officer Mohamed Noor of 40-year-old Justine Damond, who had called 911 to report hearing a possible sexual assault behind her home. Officer Matthew Harrity told investigators he was startled by a loud noise right before Damond approached their squad SUV and Noor shot her. Neither officer’s body camera was running.

The chief says further changes to the policy are possible. The police department is preparing to install equipment in squad cars that will switch on body cameras automatically. But that system is a couple months from being implemented.