Clip-On Cameras May Be Wave of the Future For Law Enforcement

27 Comments

TASER International

The cameras, which cost $699 to $899, are used by firefighters, private security companies and insurance adjusters.

In some area departments, motorcycle officers have video cameras mounted on their bikes, but they cost $3,000 to $5,000 each, and a few departments have reported problems with them because of exposure to heat and cold, authorities said.

In Watauga, the clip-on video cameras were first tested for a month during the summer, police said.

The city paid $800 each for the cameras and about $500 for extra hard drives for storage.

“The cameras can hold about four hours of video,” said Watauga police Sgt. Bobby Faglie, a motorcycle officer in the department. “A traffic stop takes two to three minutes, so we have plenty of space during a 10-hour shift.”

Faglie said he welcomed the department’s new tool.

“You just can’t tell what people will say to you or how they will act,” Faglie said.

“People can really get upset at times for getting a ticket.”

The cameras will capture how the motorist and officer behave, Faglie said.

In Watauga, a motorist has 30 days to file a complaint against an officer after an incident. The officers’ video is kept for three months, Benjamin said.

“For the most part, people just don’t like being on camera,” Benjamin said. “But these cameras are being used to protect the officer, the city and the motorist.”

DOMINGO RAMIREZ JR., 817-390-7763

To see more of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.dfw.com.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

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Jonas

over 3 years ago

38536 Comments

If cameras promote Officer safety, I'm all for them. However, the media or even worse, politicians, will find a way to incriminate Officers with the recordings.
mark27dh

over 3 years ago

974 Comments

I love it .. I must say that when these first came out I was urging my department to buy them. I had a guy say that I broke his arm, wore a cast and all and since it happened beside my car and he was a business owner... it was my word against his. Luck for me the camera outside the PD was recording and showed a never even put my hands on the guy! So ask me if I am for more camera's and I say YES!!!
Daysend

over 3 years ago

902 Comments

The camera's need to be akin to those used by the mar's rover. Something that captures a view to the left and right of the officer or as close to a 360 view as possible. This is because more is happening than just whats going on in the direction the officer would be looking. He cant keep his head pointed at two suspects at the same time durring a traffic stop. This is about saftey and covering the officers butt and confirming his view of whats going on.

Perhapse a backup wireless transmitter sending to the officers vehicle, which can also have a 360 view cam ontop of it to act as a sort of buddy system.
Anonymous

over 3 years ago

I like it.
swatcop2004

over 3 years ago

566 Comments

I'm just gonna put my 2 cents about this in...my department recently got the Scorpion Micro DV clip on cameras through leacorp.com. They are a much cheaper camera ($125) and have expandable memory over the vievu camera. Also through LEA Corp you can get them for free with a grant. Our cameras have saved our officers butts on many occasions. For today's age where police complaints are at their highest and allegations run rampant I think every officer should have one of these.

Yes I do wear one everyday all shift long and it has become habit for me to turn it on prior to exiting my car on a call or traffic stop. They are very easy to turn on.

The best part s when someone attempts to fight a case in court and we have them right on video admitting to the crime without them even knowing!!

Highly recommended!! (Just go with the LEA Corp. Cameras)
Anonymous

over 3 years ago

I cant wait until the officer who forgets hes wearing it goes to the bathroom... Its turning into the minority report.
Irishcop1961

over 3 years ago

37000 Comments

Why dont they just have defense attorney's ride with us. They can take notes and video tape everything. What will happen when it breaks or breaks in fight with a POS, will the officer worry about that damn camera over his own safety?
Anonymous

over 3 years ago

Sure...
Again, I wonder how the Cops of the 23rd Century will look like...
Any wild guess...?
Robocop...?
Terminator...? (No wonder this stuff started in CA, the home of the Terminator...)
CyborgCop...?
Demolition Man...? (Silvester Stallone and Wesley Snipes)
BigJon

over 3 years ago

20 Comments

No thank you, This is one "Tool" you can keep. What's next, maybe an earbud and live monitoring so my sgt, I.A., or chief can direct me on what to say an do on every call? I'll Pass thanks.
kevw25

over 3 years ago

1298 Comments

Having video does quell false accusations, however I don't think I like the idea of wearing a camera 24-7.
DALLASCRANE

over 3 years ago

19386 Comments

Another tool in the article of crime prevention and false accusations.