WELCH, W.Va. (AP) - Welch police officers have begun carrying body cameras to record all contact with the public.
The Bluefield Daily Telegraph reports that Police Chief Eugene Muncy announced that the officers began carrying the devices on Tuesday.
Muncy says the main reason for obtaining the cameras is the evidence value of data that they will collect. But he says the police department also wants to document what officers see so their actions can be reviewed when complaints or lawsuits are filed.
He says officers also have been issued new, updated Tasers. The devices have been enrolled in the company's automatic update program.