PHILADELPHIA — All Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) Transit Police officers are now wearing body cameras, a step Chief Thomas Nestel says will ensure that the public's constitutional rights are upheld while also protecting officers from false claims of abuse, the Philly Voice reports.

The $400,000 program, approved by the SEPTA Board in July, equips all 289 SEPTA Transit officers with Digital Ally First VU body cameras. The decision to equip the officers was made following a pilot program in which 15 officers tested cameras from 10 different vendors.

SEPTA officers will be subject to random compliance checks. Officers who fail to turn on their cameras will face penalties relative to the severity of the violation. For the full story, click here.