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CHICAGO -- The Chicago Police Department are speeding up its body camera program.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Supt. Eddie Johnson now plan to have every patrol officer in the city wearing a body camera by the end of 2017. That's a year earlier than originally planned.

On Wednesday morning, 19th District Commander Marc Buslik explained the expedited rollout. He told reporters he wished he had a camera when he started his career on the beat 36 years ago. Buslik says the cameras increase transparency and build trust between officers and the community. He also feels the cameras make officers more safe because when someone is advised they’re being recorded, it tends to reduce tension and lessen the chance of an incident escalating.

The police department started testing the cameras on select officers in January 2015.

The program expanded after the release of video showing the shooting death of Laquan McDonald.

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