Calif. city's police to wear head-mounted cameras

[Che]

SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Jose police 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 earpieces 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.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_california_police_cameras

 

[Andrew-Austin]

It sounds like a good idea to me if one disregards the price tag.

 

[akihabro]

There is pen camera's that are much cheaper. Maybe we should be the ones to carry camera's on our heads when we interact with the police.

 

[talkingpointes]

I ran into a rather drunk and easy talker that was a supposed electrical engineer for this company Taser International. He had basically laid-out how the product was package and sold to the police stations. In the end trying to get me to invest in the company believing since they would be the first to offer a product like this without competition would amount to tremendous profits and subsequently a rising stock price. I almost think it is a good bet, the day of the run in the stock price was at like $4.

However from what I gathered the devices are not going to be used for good. The trial for the device recorded a cop shooting a criminal and then later exonerated on the charges thanks to the video evidence. That wasn't exactly a deal closer for me. So I brought up the fact that what if they just edit the videos or hackers get into the system. And to reply to that he reassured me the police stations across america are buying these hook line and sinker, so think about money to be made. Anyways this thread brought back that night, this guy was fairly annoying and had terrible salesman tactics but was knowledgeable enough about the product that he was believable.

 

[ramallamamama]

Maybe we could get them to wear them while skateboarding for a good laugh.

YouTube - Horrible Skateboard Accidents

 

[Naraku]

If you're angry about the exorbitant cost that's one thing, but being angry about them wearing cameras is ridiculous. It would only provide police the opportunity to resee what they've seen or maybe catch something they didn't see while they were looking in a direction.

 

[squarepusher]

ya sounds like it could prevent abuse of powers.

 

[invisible]

The "protection" this offers will not be a two way street. Of course these things will prove extremely valuable in getting cops off the hook for misconduct (see? right there, it could have been a gun he was reaching for instead of his wallet. of course I had to shoot him). But what do you want to bet that anytime these things happen to produce evidence of misconduct, the camera will "malfunction", "forget" to be turned on, or the data will be "lost"?

 

[Mini-Me]

The "protection" this offers will not be a two way street. Of course these things will prove extremely valuable in getting cops off the hook for misconduct (see? right there, it could have been a gun he was reaching for instead of his wallet. of course I had to shoot him). But what do you want to bet that anytime these things happen to produce evidence of misconduct, the camera will "malfunction", "forget" to be turned on, or the data will be "lost"?

That was my first thought too, but there may nevertheless be a positive effect as well: It may become somewhat harder for halfway decent supervising cops to "look the other way" as often, because it will start to become more apparent within the department that false reports are endemic. Granted, this requires someone with a conscience to be in a supervising position, and that's not always going to be the case, but it may open some eyes. It could at least result in some of the "worst of the worst" thugs having to slightly scale back their brutality to "ordinary" police standards.

 

[Reason]

It sounds like a good idea to me if one disregards the price tag.

Agreed.

 

[KCIndy]

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 earpieces and attach by a headband above the ear.

Seems like the camera could be left on during the entire course of the officer's shift. The technology should be available to give a continuous feed to a central computer, where it could be recorded in the same manner as 911 calls. That would certainly cut down on the likelihood of tampering, etc...

 

[DocGrimes]

Just wait til they start integrating other technologies with the cameras.. you know, facial recognition software and other surveillance software.

As a camera only it probably would not be that bad and probably would even do some good but if the tech is accepted I doubt it would stop there.

 

[Keller1967]

Just wait til they start integrating other technologies with the cameras.. you know, facial recognition software and other surveillance software.

As a camera only it probably would not be that bad and probably would even do some good but if the tech is accepted I doubt it would stop there.

+1

Just by looking at you they could instantly check if you have insurance, any warrants, have paid your taxes, are a member of the "terrorist" database, etc. etc.

 

[Matt Collins]

I think all the cops should wear helmet cams all the time, and then connect them to the Net, so that anyone can watch. That way we have transparency and accountability.

 

[ItsTime]

Is there an off switch?

 

[DocGrimes]

I think all the cops should wear helmet cams all the time, and then connect them to the Net, so that anyone can watch. That way we have transparency and accountability.

LOL, yeah that would be great... who needs COPS the TV show. Now private life can be broadcast for all to see due to CopCam. No thank you.

 

[Matt Collins]

LOL, yeah that would be great... who needs COPS the TV show. Now private life can be broadcast for all to see due to CopCam. No thank you.

Yeah as soon as I hit the "submit" button I realized there was a definite downside to it - we'd be turning into the Roman empire with the coliseum and all. People would be tuning in to watch the police violence and that would encourage more of it.

 

[catdd]

Predators

http://www.mwctoys.com/images/review_scarpred_3.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1luLRXKoJM8/R9-7wp_G5fI/AAAAAAAAC18/kIvaTpEreaQ/s400/clevelandSWAT1.jpg

 

[Reason]

YouTube - Calif. Police Testing Head-mounted Cameras

 

[devil21]

Just another one of those "it's for your own safety" devices that will undoubtedly be used against you much more than for you. This is no substitute for your own recording device when dealing with cops.