Embattled police force to record interactions

SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Jose police, under fire for interactions with the public that have turned violent, this weekend launched a pilot project equipping officers with head-mounted cameras to record contacts with civilians.

Officers will activate the cameras, about the size of a Bluetooth device and attached by a headband above the ear, every time they respond or make contact with a person. At the end of the officer’s shift, the recording will be downloaded to a central server.

San Jose is the first major U.S. city to try out the devices, known as AXON.

Per capita, San Jose police make more arrests for resisting arrest than does any other major California city, according to a Mercury News investigation.

In 2008, police received 117 use-of-force complaints, but said none of the complaints was justified.