LET THE SUNSHINE IN: Justice Department to Allow Body Cameras in Joint Task Forces. “Change comes after local police complained about longstanding federal ban.”

While a growing number of police departments across the U.S. require body cameras for public accountability, the federal government maintains that recording federal agents’ work would jeopardize sensitive investigations, a policy that has also applied to local police who work on joint task forces.

A pilot program in at least six cities aims to strike a balance by allowing officers to wear the cameras only during some arrests and while executing search warrants, senior Justice Department officials said. But they would leave the cameras behind during missions involving confidential informants, classified information and national-security concerns. For example, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, which investigates potential terrorist attacks, would be prohibited from ever using the cameras.

Department officials said they hope a trial period of 90 days or longer will help answer major outstanding questions, including how footage should be stored and used in court cases; when cameras should be turned on or off; and how they should be used around undercover agents who require anonymity for sensitive cases.

The test run, which comes after months of deliberations with officials from the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals and the Drug Enforcement Administration, will take place in about six midsize cities, the officials said.

Faster, please.