00:00 Multiple studies have concluded that the American public wants cops to wear body cameras, with
00:04 some surveys concluding that more than 90% of people feel this way.
00:08 Now Canadian news outlet the Globe and Mail reports, cops are getting taxpayer-funded
00:12 raises to wear them.
00:14 They reported that areas like Philadelphia have begun handing out what they are calling
00:18 accountability pay.
00:19 This is something that was sought by police unions there, granting them a one-time body
00:23 camera wearing bonus of $1,500 and a series of raises.
00:27 In 2021, they received a 2.75% raise and a 3.5% raise in 2022 and 2023.
00:35 The New York Times also reported that Worcester, Massachusetts officers have been given $1,300
00:40 a year for wearing them, with one of the city's city councillors saying about it, "I cannot
00:44 imagine that when community members called for police transparency and justice, beyond
00:49 body cams, that they envisioned that it would come with a reward."
00:52 The annual bonus will cost taxpayers in the area around $2 million over just five years.
00:57 But Worcester isn't alone.
00:59 These pay raises and annualized bonuses are becoming commonplace in areas all over the
01:04 country.
01:05 Meanwhile, body cam usage remains low, even within departments that have already purchased
01:09 the cameras.
01:10 The Bureau of Justice Statistics reported that adoption for local police agencies sat
01:14 at 60% and only 49% for sheriff's offices.
01:18 (upbeat music)
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