State troopers testing body cameras in 6-month pilot program

BOSTON (AP) — The head of Massachusetts State Police says about 100 troopers will test body cameras over the next six months.

Col. Kerry Gilpin said Monday that the troopers in the pilot program will test cameras from several vendors.

Gilpin says the body cameras "offer the potential to bring a new level of officer safety, transparency, and accurate documentation" to interactions between police and the public.

Officials announced last year that troopers would wear body cameras after the agency was rocked by an overtime scandal.

Several former state troopers have pleaded guilty in federal court to putting in for overtime pay for shifts they either left early or didn't work at all.