Philly police testing mini cameras on officers

Philadelphia’s police are getting a half-dozen miniature cameras to mount on officers as it mulls using the technology to document everything that happens at a crime scene.

Commissioner Charles Ramsey says the cameras can provide evidence if an officer is the subject of a complaint, although state wiretaps laws would prohibit audio recording.

The cameras can be mounted on an officer’s glasses, hat or collar.

But Ramsey tells The Philadelphia Daily News the cameras are expensive — about $1,000 per officer. The department has about 6,500 officers.

The head of the officers’ union says the department should focus on adding officers to the force, not cameras.