Bakersfield Police are one step closer to getting body cameras under a pilot program after a vote to move forward by a city council committee. It would cost $18-thousand for gang unit officers to wear the devices for a year, but Chief Lyle Martin says body cams would lower tensions with the community, having shown they “have a ‘civilizing effect’ in regards to citizens knowing that they’re being recorded, and the officers’ professionalism knowing that they’re being recorded as well.” Those videos would be made available to the public within 10 days, the City Council votes on the plan next month.

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