The Orlando Police Department says it will add over 400 body cameras to patrol officers' uniforms in an effort to increase safety.

Police Chief John Mina made the announcement at Monday's City Council meeting.

Right now, about 50 Orlando police officers wear body cameras, but that number will increase to 450 over the next four years.

Monday's announcement comes after a 12-month study conducted by the University of South Florida.

"Officers may spend less time in court because once the defense lawyer and the defendant see that video of the defendant or suspect committing that crime, they are more likely to take a plea," Mina explained. "That means less time in court, so that could be a benefit."

Mina also discussed how the body cameras would work, saying officers would be able to upload and access video from their laptops, but they will not be able to edit the videos.

Police would also be able to capture video 30 seconds before they activate their cameras.

Miranda Smith, an Orlando resident who supports the increase in body cameras, said they could have helped her when she was pulled over and charged after officers found an empty bag with drug residue, which she said was not hers.

Smith said if the officer had a body camera, it would have proven her passenger dropped the bag.

"I had a case in 2011 where they didn't have body cameras — or if they did, the cops weren't using it," Smith said. "I got a charge that affects me, because I'm an accountant."

The Orlando Police Department has been the subject of a number of excessive force complaints over the last year, including one in which surveillance video from a downtown Orlando parking garage captured an officer doing the wrong thing.

Officer David Johnson was caught on camera firing 23 rounds from an assault rifle at a suspect who was trying to drive away in February 2014. Johnson was fired Friday.

"It is something that is going to keep people honest, and I think it's a great investment," said Rebecca Mendez, of Orlando, said of the additional body cameras.

And talk about an investment — Chief Mina said it will cost nearly $1.7 million to implement. The main components of the cost are storage, software and licensing.