A local TV station is getting body camera footage from an NYPD pilot program after a two year court battle. NY1 political reporter Courtney Gross said the station currently has 125 videos, but will continue receiving more throughout the summer per the judge's ruling.  

The videos were filmed between December 2014 and March 2016 during a pilot program launched by the NYPD. Gross said most of the tapes provide rare insight into the daily experiences of officers on the force.

"Most reporters know here that the NYPD does actually not allow you to do a ride along. It's very difficult to see behind the scenes how police officers respond to certain types of radio calls or reports of a crime," Gross told WNYC's Jami Floyd.

The increased call for body cameras comes after many police killings of African Americans made headlines across the country. NY1 had been locked in a legal battle with the NYPD since 2015, trying to convince the court that body camera footage should be public. Many police officers and their advocates say that these videos can be taken out of context and used to draw inaccurate conclusions.

Gross said while there is a risk of videos being misinterpreted, it's crucial that the footage can be accessed by the public.

She acknowledged, "They shouldn't be looked at in a vacuum... There are incidents that occur before the officers ever pressed record, there could be incidents that occur after the officer turns off the camera as well. So it's not like you can watch a video and say 'I have the answer.'"

Gross said that NY1's legal battle could set a precedent for other jurisdictions seeking body camera footage, but only if other news stations are willing to spend their fair share of time in court.