The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) ordered more than 3,000 new digital tasers on Tuesday designed to automatically turn on the cameras on an officer's uniform when triggered.
The idea is to record "every user action" in an incident, including when and how long the cop fired the shock weapon, which is called the Taser X26P Smart Weapon, according to Ars Technica.
"These devices work independently from the Axon Body Camera and does not trigger a recording," said LAPD spokesman Sgt. Daniel Gomez. "That part of the article is incorrect."
The weapons will also be able to record whether Taser wires actually strike suspects and how long the electric volts pulse through them, Reuters reported. Cops will link the weapons to Taser International body cameras through Bluetooth, and the camera will turn on right when the cop throws the Taser's safety switch.
The department's order for the new tasers comes at a time when law enforcement officers across the country face concerns about the use of excessive force, especially after the deaths of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Miss. and unarmed black man Eric Garner in New York City.
The order also follows a month after the LAPD revealed its plan to start giving Taser body cameras to 7,000 street officers, Reuters reported.
"The Los Angeles Police Department is committed to implementing safety measures to reduce the risk of injuries to both our officers and the members of our community, while improving trust within our communities," said LAPD Police Chief Charlie Beck, who added that the department plans on equipping every cop on the front line with the tasers and cameras in the next few years.
