AUSTIN, Texas - After several years of negotiation, the Austin Police Department is introducing body cameras for its officers.

More than 700 cameras will be rolled out in multiple phases starting with the East Austin substation. The program has a price tag of $750,000 and is being funded by state and federal grants.

In terms of body cam policies, APD Interim Chief Brian Manley outlined a few internal guidelines.

"Officers will be expected to let the individual they're interacting with know they are being recorded unless doing so would make that encounter less safe," he said.

As far as record-keeping, the department says it will store footage for 181 days per state law.