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Ducey Pushes For Body Cameras For State Troopers

Gov. Doug Ducey wants every state trooper in Arizona to wear a body camera. In a  press release Wednesday the governor said he is introducing a phased plan to make that happen.

The announcement said the governor is working with private sector suppliers to provide 150 new body cameras to state troopers. 

Ducey in January  announced plans to budget for body cameras for all of the Department of Public Safety's 1,200 sworn officers, but the pandemic put that on hold.

In Wednesday's announcement the governor said he would roll out a new plan over several months and would work with state lawmakers to fund body cameras in the next state budget.

Ducey's announcement comes days after Maricopa County Attorney Allister Adel said  she would not pursue criminal charges against George Cervantes, the state trooper who fatally shot Dion Johnson, a 28-year-old Black man. Johnson's death sparked protests over the summer. Cervantes was not wearing a body camera at the time of the shooting.

Katherine Davis-Young is a senior field correspondent reporting on a variety of issues, including public health and climate change.