Cynthia Davis, NAN Staten Island President, and Gwen Carr, mother of Eric Garner, visit Garner's memorial in Tomkinsville on Thursday morning. (Staten Island Advance/Vincent Barone)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Gwen Carr, mother of Eric Garner, says the city program in which police officers will wear body cameras won't change grand jury outcomes or police behavior.

"They can trash [the body cameras]. They had ... a video that represents a body camera. It did nothing," said Ms. Carr, during a Thursday morning visit to the scene where her son died on Bay Street, in Tompkinsville.

"Try something else," she said, the day after a grand jury decided not to indict Police Officer Daniel Pantaleo in the death of Garner.

Officers in the 120th Precinct will begin patrolling with body cameras on Friday under a pilot program. Nine police officers in the North Shore command will participate, and a total 54 cops will be part of the voluntary pilot in six precincts citywide.

The pilot was ordered by a U.S. District judge in a 2013 decision that found police use of the stop-and-frisk tactic was unconstitutional because it targeted minority communities. Nine officers from the 120th precinct and 54 officers in total will be participating.

"It's going to help in many, many ways. It's going to improve the work of law enforcement," Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a police training facility in Queens on Wednesday. "And, God forbid, when something goes wrong, we're going to have a clear understanding of what happened."

Cynthia Davis, Staten Island president of the National Action Network, said Eric Garner's death is proof that recording police encounters with civilians is not enough. She also criticized the cameras because police officers can control when the cameras are filming.

"What's the purpose of the police officers having the cameras if they can turn them on and off?" Ms. Davis asked. "It's a waste of money, basically."

Ms. Carr said she sees hope in the promised federal investigation into the death of Eric Garner. "I thought the video would make a difference. But it didn't," she said. "I'm just thankful we have other avenues."

Both Ms. Carr and Ms. Davis encouraged New York City protesters to continue peacefully. The National Action Network is planning a national rally in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 13.

"People are taking notice. We have people of all races involved and that's what makes me so proud," said Ms. Carr. "[Garner] will be remembered I think for generations to come. At least he will be a legacy. People in the future will know what Eric Garner stood for."