When it comes to evidence, the camera doesn't lie. Over the years , law enforcement here in Seattle has used video cameras and their police cruisers to show proof of a crime of just a document proper procedure. But now city council member Bruce Harro wants to exploit the possibility of placing the sturdily-art cameras on the officers themselves.
-I believe that this is the way of the future.That we are in a video technology age, it's a good way to establish a good record on what's happening out there.
In a special meeting today at city hall. Two separate companies, Viview and Taser International made their pitch to demonstrate the latest on-person video camera technologies. The cost, anywhere from 900$ up to 1,700$ per unit. But not everyone is sold on the idea.
-You are talking about millions of dollars of investment on technology, what's the cost benefit analysis in a large organization?
-And you don't have the answer to that yet.
-I do not have the answer to that.
-I believed last year Seattle probably spent around 16 million dollars just handling over 1,400 complaints that were made against the officers. And in studies we've seen both domestically and internationally.We've seen anywhere between 40 up to a 100 percent of reduction in complaints.
Recently incidents here in Seattle have shown that video can be a very powerful tool that can benefit both the officer and the citizen.
-What concern you more now as we saw is the incidents out there we don't get the chance to see, we want to know what's happening out there. And say it again, if we have the technology, we should use it.
According to some police departments, body bond camera should be the way of the future. Documenting everything from the officer's point of view. And the video will not only help convict people , but to help cops defend themselves from allegation of rudeness or even police brutality.
