Police to wear cameras

[marksiwel]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_california_police_cameras" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

AN 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.

[Beiruty]

waste of money!

[MadMonkey]

Good Lord, $1,700 plus a monthly fee?? I could set them up for waaaaaay less than that.

[Jonathanaf]

Good Lord, $1,700 plus a monthly fee?? I could set them up for waaaaaay less than that.

Exactly what I was thinking. Reminds me of the $50 hammer story.

[Frost]

Somehow I doubt this will improve things.

Oops I forgot to turn it on that time, darn.

We are sorry there seems to have been a problem with the upload or with the database, that recording is not available.

[KD5NRH]

Somehow I doubt this will improve things.

Oops I forgot to turn it on that time, darn.

We are sorry there seems to have been a problem with the upload or with the database, that recording is not available.

+1 IMO, it's gotten to where a "lost" recording needs to result in a presumption of guilt against the side responsible for the evidence.