The Salisbury Township Police Department is one of the first Lehigh County police departments to use police-worn body cameras.

The body cameras, which are small video cameras worn by police officers, are being used on a test-basis only, Salisbury Township Police Chief Allen W. Stiles told the Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners at its Dec. 4 meeting.

Salisbury police have been using the body cams on a limited basis since summer.

The disclosure happened after a inquiry from Commissioner Joanne Ackerman.

Stiles said a body camera was in use at the July 20 protest on sidewalks at the KidsPeace Broadway Campus, Salisbury Township.

An estimated 85 protestors, some said to represent the Lehigh Valley Tea Party, for several hours picketed the housing of illegal immigrant youths at the KidsPeace Broadway Campus. There was a counter demonstration on the sidewalk across the street.

"In lieu of Ferguson and with the government offering to fund body cams, does the Salisbury Police Department have any plans for this?" Ackerman asked.

Federal funding of body cameras for police departments in the United States was proposed Dec. 1 by President Obama following the fatal shooting of Michael Brown by a police officer Aug. 9 in Ferguson, Mo., which resulted in riots and protests.

Stiles said he won a body camera at a police expo. He said he wore a body camera at the KidsPeace protest. He said the body camera did not have audio.

Stiles said two township police officers have been testing the body camera.

Ackerman asked Stiles if he would apply for grants for body cameras if they were offered. Stiles said the Salisbury police department usually applies for grants.

Stiles said use of body cameras takes some getting used to. For instance, he said, he often "talks with his hands" and so the camera, which can be mounted on the shoulder, depicted images of his hands.

"My sergeants and I have discussed it [use of body cameras]," Stiles said.

Stiles said use of the body cameras by Salisbury police could depend on studies and recommendations by the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

"I think it protects the officer and the public," Stiles said of the body cameras.

"We have to make sure information recorded on the cams is not changed," said Stiles.

Stiles said he would like his department to test body cameras from various manufacturers.

Salisbury Township Manager Randy Soriano said, "I'd like to focus on the use of force. Do you allow choke holds as use of force? What kind of force are you allowed to use?"

"I think we're getting off-track," commissioner President James A. Brown said, who chaired the meeting.

"The camera's going to catch what the officer does," Soriano said.

The City of Allentown plans to purchase body cameras for its police officers.

Richland Township, Bucks County, police use body cameras.

The body camera can be affixed to a shoulder epaulet button, pocket or belt. Cameras are typically water-resistant, have a 130-degree lens, can tape in low-light, have a 12-hour battery and are cordless.

Among police-worn body cameras are FirstVu, VieVu2, Le3 and Axon, the latter listing for $399 each.

Cameras are also available to be affixed to eyeglasses.

According to a body-camera manufacturer's website, studies have shown using cameras can reduce complaints by more than 80 percent.

United States law enforcement spends approximately $2 billion annually to resolve claims, according to the website.