Police in California are testing head-mounted cameras to record interactions with the public.
The test using 18 patrol officers comes as citizens’ groups criticize the department for too often using force during arrests.
Officers are to turn on the cameras every time they talk with anyone. They download the recordings after every shift.
The cameras are the size of a Bluetooth cell phone earpiece and attach by a headband above the ear.
San Jose is the first major American city to try the devices, made by Arizona-based Taser International. Taser is paying for the experiment, but the price could be high if San Jose equips all 1,400 officers.
Each kit costs $1,700, plus a $99 per officer monthly fee. That’s $4 million department-wide each year.
Source/Full Story: FOXNews.com
2 Comments
This device will vendicate police officers who are accused of inapproprate behavior and, perhaps expose the few officers who do use excessive force.
Police need to be able to do their jobs without one hand tired behind their back. So many criminals exploit police watch groups that believe police use excessive force. These groups do not work the streets or put their lives on the line daily; therefore, they are not in a postion to judge when force is necessary.
The police are, for the most part, the biggest criminals of all, but I doubt much of that will be caught on camera even with these new provisions. I personally know 7 former law enforcement officers who are serving prison time right now for excessive force, but it happened within the county jail system where no head mounted cams would be worn anyway. Unfortunately for them, the bloody inmate they beat to a pulp was evidence that couldn’t be so neatly hidden or explained away.
ruthellsocialworker1@yahoo.com, based upon your last statement, not even a jury would be in a position to judge these matters.