GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. – The first Minnesota State Patrol officers have started wearing body cameras full time. Forty troopers in the Golden Valley district have been to be issued the equipment. Colonel Matt Langer said all troopers statewide should be equipped by May. The video systems will sync body-warn cameras with cameras in the squad cars. Langer noted that troopers have 400,000 interactions with members of the public a year. “The body-worn cameras give us an opportunity to have an undeniable record of what occurred roadside,” he said.
Verbatim
Lander: “I’d like to think that every single interaction with a state trooper is wonderful. The reality is some of them are more difficult than others. And although we’d like to think every state trooper is perfect, we’re also human beings as are members of the public. The interaction captured on body-worn cameras will hold everyone accountable.”