Law Enforcement and police departments are constantly on the lookout for newer and safer ways to improve the way they do their jobs, and today many of these improvements involve the use of technology to help make things better. There are better safety measures, weapons and equipment available to officers all of the time to make them safer and to make circumstances safer. This includes the use of cameras in police cars as a measure to record their actions during a traffic stop, both for the protection of the officer and for others involved. Now many areas are taking the next step in safety and are looking into the growing use of body cameras for officers.
What a Body Camera Can do
The advances that have taken place in technology have allowed police officers to know wear high definition cameras as part of their daily uniforms. The cameras are rolling constantly to record the action of the officer throughout the shift so that everything that occurs can be recorded. This has a few advantages to it. It allows there to be a true and factual record of any and all incidents that the officer may be involved during the course of the day, recording all traffic stops, incidents, arrests, altercations or anything else the officer may personally be involved in. The cameras can be something that is simply clipped on to the regular uniform or even be hidden as part of a button on the uniform so that it can be less conspicuous to those around the officer.
Advantages of Body Cameras for All
These cameras can have several positive effects. The cameras help to lessen incidents of police misconduct as the officer knows that he or she is being recorded during their actions and what happens is going to be seen by others. While providing an extra layer of protection to the public because of this, it also provides protection for the police officer as the recordings can help to indicate and perhaps vindicate the officer in situations where misconduct is claimed but may not have actually happened. There may also be times where a person being interviewed, talked to or detained by an officer may avoid acting hostile or belligerent when they know they are being recorded during the process, helping to make the situation overall safer for the police.
With more and more people and officers seeking ways to help make law enforcement more effective and safer for the officers and the community, body cameras are becoming more of the norm in society. The various cameras used on the officers and in their vehicles are only going to serve to help make law enforcement more effective, safer and accountable for all that are involved. As advances are made more and more in technology you are likely to see continual changes occurring in what is used by law enforcement and body cameras may be just the first small step in a line of methods to make improvements in safety and performance.