The Associated Press reports that the San Jose (CA) police are testing head-mounted cameras to record contact with the public.
They are trying it with 18 patrol officers. They are to turn on the camera when they have contact with anyone. I am sure that they will get some good video and there will be some reward for using the cameras but I have a number of problems with the system.
One turning it on when you have contact with a person is a problem. Often I would get out of the patrol car or make contact with someone all of a sudden. I had no idea I was going to find someone in that location and doing what they were doing. Turning on a camera would be the last thing on my mind plus if it is on your mind that I have to record this.. That second or two could get you killed.
Plus in the photo look at the location of the camera. I think a blow to the head right on top of that camea and driving it into the head of the officer could kill him.
I have also been in a number of fights and after the fight my hat, radio and all sorts of stuff might be on the ground.
If I were a bad guy ..right now ..I would be thinking how can I use this head-mounted camera and make it end up helping me and hurting the officer.
If the San Jose police department decideds to spend $4 million on this each year I think I could find better ways to spend the money. How many extra supervisors could $4 million give the department. How many extra officers?
If you want to spend money on high tech items then how about GPS units on every car that give you all sorts of data about the car and location and cameras and microphones on the cars that can track and follow action and sound. Plus sending the data back to dispatch in real time.
I love high tech stuff and this may be what is coming for all police departments but I do not think this is the time and place for it.
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