Police video shows Deptford encounter

Since the Rodney King beating in Los Angeles 16 years ago, caught on video by a bystander, civil-rights activists have clamored for the cameras in police cruisers. Progress has been hampered by costs and resistance from police.

Last month, Los Angeles police announced a $5 million plan to put dashboard cameras in 300 police vehicles. Eventually, the department wants to spend $25 million to put cameras in all 1,200 patrol cars.

Last year, the Chicago Police Department began installing patrol car cameras.

Philadelphia has no such plan.

The city has no shortage of justification. In 2000, on the eve of the Republican National Convention, a TV news helicopter recorded police officers pummeling and kicking carjack suspect Thomas Jones. Fourteen officers were later suspended.

Capt. Ben Naish, a Philadelphia police spokesman, said that the department has no plans to equip patrol cars with cameras, mainly because of the cost.

"We work on a limited budget and have to set priorities," he said.

To watch the police car video of what prosecutors contend is the police beating, go to