Barring any last minute technological issues, a dozen East Precinct cops will begin wearing the department’s batch of test body cameras this weekend in a two to three-month trial of the technology that could eventually lead to full-time deployment across Seattle.

A Seattle Police Department spokesperson confirmed Wednesday afternoon that Seattle’s trial of two competing products is scheduled to begin over the weekend in the precinct covering Capitol Hill and the Central District.

CHS wrote about the tests, the implications for improving policing, and privacy concerns here earlier this month. “Testing these two will allow us to assess how we can transfer and access the video if we store it in a (a) cloud-based solution (TASER/Evidence.com) and how we can handle the video if we (b) do this in-house similar to in-car video system (VIEVU),” a City of Seattle rep told CHS. The assessment of the program is slated to be wrapped up by fall of 2015 in time for making decisions for City Hall’s 2016 budget.

SPD will first test the system provided by Taser and then the competing VIEVU system.

Rules around the use of the cameras during the test include verbal notification if you’re being recorded (you’ll also see a blinking red light) and adherence to state law requiring officers to have “two-party consent” to record audio on private property.

East Precinct and Capitol Hill have been a center point for SPD surveillance and privacy issues including the 2010 decision to remove cameras from Cal Anderson.

Friday, SPD is hosting a “hackathon” work session with developers and privacy advocates to help come up with technology solutions for public access to the videos. The department has also posted this list of “frequently asked questions” about the cameras. “Why are officers wearing cameras?” it asks. The answer provided: “The intent is to capture video of officer interactions. The footage can be used as evidence against suspects, and help monitor the behavior of officers.”