Juneau Police Department begins using body cameras

Juneau police officers have begun wearing body cameras.

Officer Alex Smith says he has worn his for about a month.

He says he turns it on every times he has an official contact, which could be six to 12 times a day.

KTOO-FM reported Friday that the body camera is magnetically attached to Smith's chest.

Juneau Police Chief Ed Mercer says five officers are currently testing the body cameras.

The cameras are always recording, Mercer says.

Once an officer presses a button on the front of the camera, the camera begins tagging and storing the video from a moment a few minutes before the officer pressed the button.

Mercer hopes to have all patrol officers and supervising sergeants trained and using body cameras by the middle of 2018.