ACLU gives St. Louis residents video cameras to monitor police

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- After a year of delays, the American Civil Liberties Union chapter in St. Louis is launching a program that will put video cameras in the hands of St. Louis residents so they can monitor police activity in their neighborhoods.

The ACLU of Eastern Missouri announced the program last year after television crews videotaped police punching and kicking a suspect after a car chase. Three of the officers were from the suburban Maplewood police department and one was from the St. Louis city department.

The ACLU scheduled a news conference Wednesday to outline details of the new program, dubbed Project Vigilance.

"Project Vigilant levels the playing field," ACLU spokeswoman Brenda Jones said in a statement. "Police officers who know their misconduct will be reported and probably filmed might be less likely to abuse their authority."

ACLU spokesman Redditt Hudson said last year the program would train residents to videotape police activity while providing them with free cameras to do so. He said the program would also included classes to teach residents of their rights when approached by police.

St. Louis police spokesman Richard Wilkes declined to comment in detail on the ACLU program when asked how it might affect police relations with the community.

"We don't have any opinions or feelings about it one way or another," Wilkes said. "Hopefully it records positive interactions between the police and the community."

Passions were enflamed last year after the violent videotaped arrest of 33-year-old Edmon Burns, which was broadcast on local and national television stations. The chase began in Maplewood after officers said they noticed a man in a van acting suspiciously. It ended in St. Louis.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the incident and handed the case over to the U.S. Justice Department, which said in May there was not sufficient evidence to file charges against the officers.

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On the Net:

American Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri: www.aclu-em.org