PistolCam.

[PhilosophyNerd]

What are your feelings towards this new invention?


http://www1.wsvn.com/news/articles/national/MI66467/

[Contact]

It's a little obsurd, in my opinion.

As much training and testing as officers are subject to, I think their word ought to count for something.

This device is just trying to save someone from getting sued, and it's pathetic. And for what, so a jury can watch the mean police officer violently kill some families son who was just getting his life back on track, just for calmly walking toward the officer with a small 8 inch buck knife raised above his head because he was just stretching his arms...you know, they get tired when you sit all day.

[Malaru]

i think the cam would be great for training- especially for multi-officer training. as for testimony--- maybe

[velobard]

I'm wary about the potential for these videos to turn up online. More fodder for the gore crowd.

[Malaru]

gore as in the almost president- or gore crowd as in "wow, watch the bullet dig into his skull! cool!"

[lowdrag]

If it doesn't make you quicker or more accurate or the target easier to hit then it doesn't have any business on a gun.

[MT Guy]

plus it's not going to capture the guy trying to rip the gun out of the cop's holster, only the cop drawing and firing on some poor innocent defenseless guy. things like that it woulnd't capture, only the shooting, accomplishing nothing except make the cop look bad to the uninformed public

[scratched13]

I REALLY like the idea of this for training. It could REALLY drive home the safety issues with firearms, flagging and movement.

I REALLY DO NOT like the idea of this on the street. It would RARLEY help things, it would INVARIABLY cause controversy.

What happens if youo are pointing your weapon in a direction other than what you are looking at???????? Lots. Also, with a greater field of view, details will be much smaller/nonexistant.

Also, with camera's turning on WHENEVER the gun is drawn, officers would be MUCH MORE HESITANT in drawing. I ONLY draw when I feel the need to. With one of those big brother devices on my weapon, I would have to debate this point to a ridiculous level putting myself and others in danger.

[1042 Trooper]

I remember when my word in court was enough.

With this thing, an officer's testimony of his fear of dying won't be enough nor believed until there is "footage" available. I said it when the dash mounted camcorders came out and I say it again, now.

Sad.

[pileosnafu]

I was on the Taser intl. site today and came across this

http://taser.com/products/consumers/Pages/TASERCAM.aspx


A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words.

The new TASER CAM™ recorder offers increased accountability - not just for officers, but for the people they arrest. Until now, it's been the officer's word against the suspect's word. Now with the TASER CAM recorder, every potential TASER® X26 deployment can be documented with full audio and video - even in zero light conditions.

With our already proven AFID tracking system and dataport firing log download, TASER devices have pioneered the use of technology in accountability. Accountability works: Agencies with TASER Officer Safety Programs reported decreases of up to 50% in citizen complaints.

The TASER CAM is an audio-video recording device integrated into a rechargeable TASER X26 power supply that replaces the standard Digital Power Magazine (DPM). The TASER CAM recorder is activated anytime the safety is in the off position. This allows officers to capture vital information prior to, during, and after the potential deployment of a TASER X26 device.

Video and audio data is downloaded via a USB cable. The TASER CAM recorder is an optional upgrade compatible with all TASER X26 devices and provides another layer of accountability to support officer's reports


I agree for training it could be a great tool, especially on a gun to help show the recoil.

[Contact]

I was on the Taser intl. site today and came across this

I agree for training it could be a great tool, especially on a gun to help show the recoil.

I disagree with that on all grounds as well. If you want 4 cameras on you 24/7/365 be my guest, but having an extra piece of equipment on your weapon that in no way shape or form helps keep you alive, it will help get you dead. This isn't the Fox Reality Channel where we need a camera every 8 feet in order to take someones word for things.

A taser is a tool to bring someone under control, you do not have to be in fear for your life or someone elses life to deploy it. Once the taser is turned off, the effects are over with immediately.

A gun is a tool to stop an imminent threat by killing it, you must be in fear of your life or someone elses life to deploy it. Death is not the intended result, but very often that can be exactly what happens.

[1042 Trooper]

Plus, I've got a life-sized picture in my mind of standing tall in front of the CHief explaining why I banged up or broke this camera in a foot chase or simply by removing the cumbersome thing from my holster.

And what if it decides (as my dash cam did a few times) to malfunction right at the moment I "need" it to verify my story? Once I had a complete fictional compaint lodged against me for using foul language wth a motorist. This was against anything anyone who had ever worked with me had ever seen me do, but yet it was filed. My camcorder would have backed me, but the (*&^$^%#@ body mic malfunctioned (the wire had broken) and there was no sound.

Then they accused me of altering the sound track!!!

No thanks. No way.

[1042 Trooper]

First, I see this is your first post. Welcome to the forums!

As a non-police officer, it is understandable why you may not grasp all of the legal and professional troubles video can cause. This guncorder is just more of the same. To begin, it does not "capture the very last sight before you pull the trigger."

The picture is a narrow, two-dimensional view directly in front of the gun. Many other factors taken in by the police officer are not seen. His mortal fear of being killed, is not seen nor felt. Other factors affecting his decision to shoot or not shoot; other bystanders, suspect allies, traffic, noise, weather, back up, threats to bystanders, prior verbal threats, things seen by the officer before he draws his weapon which lead to the decision to draw it - none can bee seen nor included in the video. If they could, perhaps things would be different.

I've no doubt this additional tool will come into common use, especially as it gets even smaller. All I am stating is it's too bad our society has been reduced to automatic and fundamental distrust and disbelief of the word of honest and stalwart men and women, physically, mentally, psychologically and ethically tested and investigated prior to being appointed.

And, as to "not having to provide proof or what not," believe me - a police officer shoots a bad guy, he provides endless justifications and explainations for months on end afterward and hopes like hell his judgement is seen as correct.

To depend upon this narrow view of the action for total justification is a poor way to treat our police and the public who base their jusdgement of their police on these pieces of "footage."

But thanks for the "due respect." :)

[1042 Trooper]

You will find as time goes n that even the sworn officers here have many diverse opinions on this and most other matters. It's a great way for citizens like yourself to learn that your police are indeed human beings - not robots.

Once again, keep asking. There are no dumb questions - just dumb answers. I have been known to give a few myself!

Peace.

[scratched13]

There is a relatively famous bit of footage where 2 officers shoot an "unarmed black man." It is shot from to different dash cams (2 or 3 cars). In one, it looks like they shot him in the back - unjustifiably by just the video alone. THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN SCREWED BIG TIME. The other, shows clearly that they were justified. Happened in a stop and rob parking lot.

THAT is why I don't want that crap on my weapons.

[Columbus]

plus it's not going to capture the guy trying to rip the gun out of the cop's holster, only the cop drawing and firing on some poor innocent defenseless guy. things like that it woulnd't capture, only the shooting, accomplishing nothing except make the cop look bad to the uninformed public

Good point. For some reason that didn't even cross my mind.

[Justice71]

I remember seeing the website for this, it has its pros and cons, just as all new technology does. The current form of the technology does seem to do more harm than good.