Oklahoma police to get wearable cameras
Police officers in Owasso, Oklahoma may soon all be wearing video cameras on their bodies; patrol cars already house cameras in their dash board to record a police officer’s actions, but the Owasso Police Department wants each of its thirty-nine agents to wear a camera at all times; the cameras are designed to increase transparency, accountability, and help stop “the constant litigation that police face on a basis, complaints, and false accusations” by providing undisputable video evidence of what occurred; the cameras will cost $900 per unit
Police officers in Owasso, Oklahoma may soon all be wearing video cameras on their bodies.
Patrol cars already house cameras in their dash board to record a police officer’s actions, but the Owasso Police Department wants each of its thirty-nine agents to wear a camera at all times.
According to Sergeant Nick Boatman, officers will soon be carrying a $900 Vievu personal video camera that will record everything an officer does.
The cameras are designed to increase transparency, accountability, and help stop “the constant litigation that police face on a basis, complaints, and false accusations,” Boatman says.
The cameras will help provide indisputable evidence on how events unfolded during an arrest or traffic stop, eliminating any question or complaint.
“You can actually go back with these videos and watch the officer’s actions how they dealt with people. What they did at a particular scene,” Sgt. Boatman said.
Footage from the cameras will be stored on hard drives that cannot be altered.
Boatman says, “Whatever is recorded in the video is going to make into the hard drives that are right protected.”
Officers can view, but not edit what is recorded.
Boatman is optimistic that these cameras will be issued to officers in other jurisdictions as well.
“In the not too distant future, I foresee most police agencies going to personal video cameras for their officers,” he said.
While Boatman remains optimistic, the proposal has yet to be approved by the Owasso City Council. A vote is likely to occur in the next several months.
