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New state law sets standards for police body cameras

A Chicago Democrat says he hopes a new state law will prevent the very situation that’s playing out over the death of a 17-year-old killed by a Chicago police officer.  The new law sets standards for police officers who wear body cameras.

Chicago Democrat Elgie Sims says it’s significant given the release of a police dashboard video of the shooting death of Laquan McDonald.

"It only reinforces what we did."

Sims says people have questioned the timing of criminal charges brought against the police officer who killed McDonald, and body cameras would help inspire confidence in law enforcement.

"We were trying to make sure that you could put sunshine on those issues and make sure that there was never talk of a conspiracy or cover-up or any of those kinds of things."

Some Chicago police have already been using body cameras under a pilot program.