Body cameras for cops are not enough. Not nearly enough. Bear with me...
Costco recently had an EIGHT camera security cam system (with IR capable cams) on sale for less than $400 and that included the DVR.
I want their CARS to be equipped with cameras, inside and out, and here's how I want it set up...
I want two stationary cameras inside the car where the dome light assembly is. One facing rearward so as to show everything that happens in the back seat, and one facing forward for the same reason.
I want four stationary cameras outside, one at each end of the front and rear bumpers, facing forward and backward so as to be able to see everything that takes place alongside the car to a distance of about 15-20 feet from the door handle.
I want four cameras on swivels; one at each end of the light bar, one at the rear of the hood and one at the front of the trunk lid; all activated as soon as the car is placed in Park. Each camera would begin a slow scan left to right at that moment, and focus on the LEO when he exited the car. http://www.ebay.com/bhp/2-axis-gimbal
The swiveling cameras could be guided via an RFID tag placed behind the LEO's badge.
Consider the possibilities... Say 10 cars show up at the same place and their occupants all move to wherever they're going to move, and something big goes down that is going to need testimony from everyone at the scene. A three-dimensional view of the entire scene including each LEO's position can be recreated using an overlay of streets, floor plans of buildings, even trees and fences. No LEO could say "I was in location X and saw the alleged perpetrator do Y" and get away with lying on the witness stand. It's a totally passive recording scheme that could be made tamper proof.
Sound waaaaay to expensive to be practical? Go back and read the first paragraph and the link after the paragraph concerning the swiveling cams.
Body cameras are shit if you ask me and here's why: If I were a training officer and had it in mind to protect every one of my trainees from future prosecution, I'd merely train them to take an oblique stance so the camera was pointed away from the action. Problem solved.
I honestly believe this system modifies the actions of law enforcement officers because they KNOW their every move and location is tracked and recorded. The ROI is more than worth it, and I believe the DOJ should fund the bulk of the upgrades to cars.
