NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — Police officers in Norfolk could soon be outfitted with body cameras.

Police chief Mike Goldsmith has ordered 300 cameras for the department’s officers. Media outlets report that Goldsmith announced the purchase Monday night at the City Council’s annual retreat and at an Old Dominion University student safety forum.

The city has more than 700 police officers.

Goldsmith says field operations units will be outfitted with the cameras first.

He says he was looking for ways to strengthen community ties following the August fatal shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri.

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