Oh sure, technically COPS is still a current show, but seriously, the formula hasn’t changed in eons. TASER International’s AXON / EVIDENCE.com tandem is gearing up to change all that — so long as officers agree to strap the hardware on their person, that is. In short, AXON is an on-officer recording system that captures audio and video of arrests, and after the scuffle is complete, it sends the data (encrypted heavily, of course) to EVIDENCE.com servers that are managed far, far away from the potentially dubious grasp of police departments. There are built in sensors to see if any data has been tampered with, and if all goes to plan, the entire system should be ready for deployment in Q3 of this year. In other words, go ahead and get all your stupidity out before the summer ends.
While the public sees this as a way to stem illegal police activity, TASER is selling it with a different spin:
The AXON™ is a tactical computer that brings the power of incident video to every law enforcement officer. Law enforcement officers constantly face false allegations and complaints that question their integrity and honor. With AXON, you now have the ability to show administrators and even jurors exactly what you saw, from your visual perspective.
At first look, you would think the police would do anything not to use it.
But the dashboard camera is their best friend. For every incident the dashcam finds against the cops, there are a hundred in favor. I will bet that this type of Body Camera will be the same.
The police will love it. When they are doing their job the lawsuits against them will plummet, and they will be doing their job much more often.
Then again, how much footage of donuts at the corner cafe do we need?
Bad cops will hate this because they can’t behave badly.
Good cops will like this because they can’t be accused of bad behavior.
Can anyone lose here? Only the criminals.
I bet you that the video will only be released in many jurisdictions when it is exculpatory, not ever when it shows abuse. This could be very useful with a strong public records/obstruction of justice law, however.
This will weed out the weak on both sides. But there are many times more civilians than cops.
I’d want to know if a cop’s entire day/week would be admitted as evidence for wrong doing to show what he was putting up with. Everyone has a limit.
The cynic in me has a problem believing that the servers really are away from prying PD personnel.
This is a great idea. I have more faith in raw video footage than I do in the police themselves. Keep those frakkers honest.
All I know is that I sure as hell wouldn’t want to wear one. Not because everything is recorded, but because it looks uncomfortable as hell and is positioned badly for officer safety. The little head thing will be the first thing to go flying off in a fight, so there will be lots of videos of the pavement and officer’s shins. The trick then will be to keep the offender from picking it up and choking you to death with your own camera.
Cops love the dashboard camera: while their partner stands in front of the car, blocking the camera, the cop can beat the suspect senseless.
With a headmounted camera, expect the video to start with the police officer politely asking the suspect to turn around and put his hands up. Then the cop covers the camera with his hand and all you hear is the taser getting fired repeatedly.
Some cop will forget to use “Bathroom Mode”, and then get laughed right out of the force…
How will they keep people in line without being anble to beat them up away from prying eyes?
Should be made mandatory if only in the interest of public safety. I’d bet that evidence from these units would help to streamline the court process. Certainly would be easy to prove if someone’s miranda rights were respected or not. Add to that the entertainment value, sheesh they could syndicate the more intersting recordings and make a bundle in the reality entertainment industry. This is a win-win to all except the criminals on both sides of the law.
I would be all for this. But then, the jurisdiction I work out of still has not mandated (and, in fact, actively discourages) video recording in cruisers.
It’s as everyone’s said – good cops will love it, bad cops will hate it. Where the bad outweigh the good, we won’t be seeing this.
All that aside – looks a bit bulky. Not to mention slightly ridiculous. I can foresee a lot of Robocop jokes.
A good cop should be beating people up off camera. Good way to keep kids on the straight and narrow.
What a SCAM!! They can look around with their eyse a choose which direction to face. They could all be kicking the crap outta some guy while facing up at the sky all screaming “PUT DOWN THE WEAPON!!!”.
Oh and in response to #14, everyone would just do all their dirty work after hours.
This looks like a pretty expensive system if applied to all law enforcement officers…man I’m in the wrong line of work.
Sure, have something like this for all…to solve a problem caused by a small percentage of cops who act criminally.
Maybe this would be good for monitor violent offenders who are on parole. Something like this may have prevented what happened in Oakland. Four good cops dead because of bleeding heart liberal policies.
Proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
Proof by a preponderance of the evidence.
How can “the word” of one person against another person be any such proof?
Technologies honorable march towards justice. Can we stand it?
DONUTVISION
Coming to a cop near you….
#17, mr. show,
Something like this may have prevented what happened in Oakland. Four good cops dead because of bleeding heart liberal policies.
Perhaps you could explain that comment. I thought the police were killed with “legal guns”, now I find out it was “policies”.
What’s to guarantee that they just don’t take the camera off when they choose to?