Embattled East Haven police to get cruiser cameras

EAST HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — The East Haven police department will be installing dashboard cameras in its cruisers amid a federal racial profiling investigation that led to criminal charges against four officers.

The New Haven Register reports that the Town Council recently approved spending $115,000 to install cameras in 16 police cars now and two more in the future.

The chairman of the town's Board of Police Commissioners, Joe Civitello, says cameras help show what really happened when officers are sued or questioned over their actions.

Interim Police Chief Brent Larrabee says local officers wanted cameras to rebut allegations and complaints against them. He says that's unusual because many police departments fight to keep cameras out of cruisers.

Four town officers were charged in January with abusing and harassing Latino residents and business owners.

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Information from: New Haven Register