Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

SoylentNews is people

posted by martyb on Monday October 22 2018, @03:04PM   Printer-friendly
from the battery-with-assault? dept.

Submitted via IRC for takyon

New York City Police Department Commissioner James P. O'Neill suspended the use of some bodycam devices "effective immediately" after one of the city's cameras exploded over the weekend.

The NYPD said it was made "aware of a possible product defect" on Saturday when an officer said his Vievu model LE-5 camera caught fire. The officer removed the device before it exploded, and no injuries were reported.

"Last night, an officer retrieved a body-cam for deployment on a midnight tour and noticed there was smoke exiting from the bottom portal and immediately removed it," the NYPD said in a statement. "After it was safely removed, the device exploded."

Investigators said "the incident revealed a potential for the battery inside the camera to ignite," according to the statement.

[...] "Out of an abundance of caution, the Police Commissioner has directed that the continued use and distribution of the LE-5 model cameras be suspended effective immediately," the statement said. "All officers assigned LE-5 cameras were instructed to immediately remove the cameras and bring them back to their commands."

Source: https://abcnews.go.com/US/york-police-department-halts-bodycams-explodes/story?id=58658403


Original Submission

This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
Display Options Threshold/Breakthrough Mark All as Read Mark All as Unread
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
(1)
  • (Score: 2) by DannyB on Monday October 22 2018, @03:07PM (6 children)

    by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Monday October 22 2018, @03:07PM (#751991) Journal

    Continue to use these cameras. But leave it to the discretion of individual officers what action to take if they become concerned that their camera might explode.

    --
    People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.
    • (Score: 5, Insightful) by tangomargarine on Monday October 22 2018, @03:50PM (4 children)

      by tangomargarine (667) on Monday October 22 2018, @03:50PM (#752018)

      You don't think they would take that excuse to just all not wear them?

      "Well Bob's exploded, so mine might as well. Ergo I won't put it on in the first place."

      --
      "Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"
      • (Score: 5, Funny) by DannyB on Monday October 22 2018, @04:16PM

        by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Monday October 22 2018, @04:16PM (#752025) Journal

        They might do that. Not wear them. What could go wrong?

        Police are trustworthy and would only behave in the most professional manner representing their department. If it were not so, police departments would equip their officers with body cameras.

        --
        People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.
      • (Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 22 2018, @10:24PM (1 child)

        by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 22 2018, @10:24PM (#752208)

        On the other hand, if you found out a device you had had a chance of "exploding" (which admittedly sounds scarier than the event probably actually was), wouldn't you be a bit freaked out about it as well? Do you remember the furor over the Samsung Galaxy 7?

        (On the other, other hand, I'm about 90% sure this is just an excuse to get rid of the big-brother cameras. Now I think the "quis custodiet ipsos custodes" and the documented history of police abuse warrants the privacy invasion... but I can see if I were a police officer how I'd want to not use them. Who here would like having a keylogger on their work computer?)

        • (Score: 3, Touché) by sjames on Tuesday October 23 2018, @04:38PM

          by sjames (2882) on Tuesday October 23 2018, @04:38PM (#752521) Journal

          I do recall the Galaxy 7s and the way that practically nobody decided to not carry a cellphone as a result.

      • (Score: 2) by driverless on Monday October 22 2018, @11:08PM

        by driverless (4770) on Monday October 22 2018, @11:08PM (#752225)

        when an officer said his Vievu model LE-5 camera caught fire

        So that's what they did with all the recalled Galaxy 9's!

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 22 2018, @09:59PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 22 2018, @09:59PM (#752195)

      I don't know if you're being too subtle, or what, but a lot of people seem to be taking your satiric pays seriously. It's somewhat frightening. Might just be autism or gigantic egos though.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 22 2018, @03:29PM (11 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 22 2018, @03:29PM (#752005)

    What if the battery gets shot? I bet that would cause a fire, which just adds extra risk to the health of the already injured officer. I doubt the batteries are bullet resistant.

    • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 22 2018, @03:38PM (8 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 22 2018, @03:38PM (#752013)

      Most police "officers" do not get shot at in their entire lives. Injured officer ... as if there is such a thing. There are injured civilians but never a police "officer".

      They make you think they are constantly getting shot while stopping the criminals from killing you when in reality, they are the thugs we need protection against. It is a fine idea to hire street thugs to protect you from the po-lice.

      • (Score: 5, Informative) by KilroySmith on Monday October 22 2018, @05:00PM (3 children)

        by KilroySmith (2113) on Monday October 22 2018, @05:00PM (#752037)

        Roughly 50-60 officers shot and killed every year, out of half a million officers.
        https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/12/28/number-officers-killed-2017-hits-nearly-50-year-low/984477001/ [usatoday.com]
        Roughly 1000 civilians shot and killed by officers every year:
        https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/nationwide-police-shot-and-killed-nearly-1000-people-in-2017/2018/01/04/4eed5f34-e4e9-11e7-ab50-621fe0588340_story.html?noredirect=on [washingtonpost.com]

        Some comments:
        1. Almost all officers wear bulletproof vests and very few civilians do, so I'd expect that the officer mortality numbers are significantly lower than one might expect based on the number of times they get shot at.
        2. Officers are likely much, much better trained marksmen than civilians are, so I'd expect that civilian mortality numbers are higher than one might expect based on the number of times they get shot at.

        • (Score: 3, Interesting) by Thexalon on Monday October 22 2018, @07:22PM (2 children)

          by Thexalon (636) on Monday October 22 2018, @07:22PM (#752104)

          One aspect of all this is that situations where lethal force is warranted and a cop is present are relatively rare. As in, if 0.2% of cops kill somebody in a given year, and 0.001% of cops are killed in a given year, that means 99.8% of cops aren't in firefights at all. Which suggests that (a) in general fear of crime is way overblown in most of the US, and (b) the cops doing what they've been doing doesn't help much to stop what's left of crime.

          The stats match up too: The overall trend is that right now the streets are approximately the safest they've ever been in the US. And yet we're still acting like random gangs of miscreants are blowing people away left and right, complete with moving far away from where we (mostly incorrectly) think crime is a big problem to spending money on fancy alarm systems that often cost more than the stuff we're trying to protect.

          Something else the numbers tell us: If we want to reduce the number of murders happening every year in the US, one of the most effective things we could do is provide proper protection for abused partners and children (i.e. helping them get to a location where the abuser can't find them, quickly), especially when trying to leave the abusive relationship. That alone claims about 1,000 victims a year, and is one of the more common situations in which kids are murdered.

          --
          The only thing that stops a bad guy with a compiler is a good guy with a compiler.
          • (Score: 1) by nitehawk214 on Monday October 22 2018, @07:43PM (1 child)

            by nitehawk214 (1304) on Monday October 22 2018, @07:43PM (#752114)

            Militarizing the police will not help with familial abuse murders; therefore there is no money to be made on it. It will be declared that "nothing can be done about it."

            --
            "Don't you ever miss the days when you used to be nostalgic?" -Loiosh
            • (Score: 2) by urza9814 on Tuesday October 23 2018, @01:42PM

              by urza9814 (3954) on Tuesday October 23 2018, @01:42PM (#752466) Journal

              Militarizing the police will not help with familial abuse murders; therefore there is no money to be made on it. It will be declared that "nothing can be done about it."

              Clearly we just need to get the right companies (ie, construction) lobbying for high-tech McMansions for abuse victims!

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 22 2018, @05:50PM (3 children)

        by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 22 2018, @05:50PM (#752057)

        Wow, so I try to start a conversation of how they make these devices safe and you turn it into an attack on officers? Good job, a-hole.

        • (Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 22 2018, @06:44PM (2 children)

          by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 22 2018, @06:44PM (#752088)

          stop calling them "officers", you fucking seditious whore.

          • (Score: 3, Informative) by KilroySmith on Monday October 22 2018, @07:35PM

            by KilroySmith (2113) on Monday October 22 2018, @07:35PM (#752108)

            You really ought to look up the definition of "seditious". You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

          • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 23 2018, @12:50PM

            by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 23 2018, @12:50PM (#752450)

            That's what they are called because that's what they are. Grow up.

    • (Score: 5, Insightful) by tibman on Monday October 22 2018, @05:01PM (1 child)

      by tibman (134) Subscriber Badge on Monday October 22 2018, @05:01PM (#752038)

      Meanwhile, the US Army straps 2-4 grenades to your vest, ~240 rounds of 5.56mm, and ~45 rounds of 9mm. Most cops will never get shot. Super rare. Having video evidence of "what really happened" will far outweigh the getting shot in the battery risk.

      --
      SN won't survive on lurkers alone. Write comments.
      • (Score: 2, Interesting) by nitehawk214 on Monday October 22 2018, @07:46PM

        by nitehawk214 (1304) on Monday October 22 2018, @07:46PM (#752117)

        I suspect that a lowest-bidder bribe-contract-awarded camera is more likely to explode when shot than a grenade.

        If they just put out the money to buy proper hardware, this wouldn't even be an issue. The cameras protect both the police and the public when used properly.

        --
        "Don't you ever miss the days when you used to be nostalgic?" -Loiosh
  • (Score: 3, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 22 2018, @03:34PM (13 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 22 2018, @03:34PM (#752007)

    Out of an abundance of caution ...

    Out of an abundance of caution, the Police repeatedly shot and killed the black man who was tending to his little daughter. Just in case he pulls out a gun. Out of an abundance of caution.

    I find that police everywhere are cowards and will do anything to benefit themselves and will not put themselves in harm's way for any reason.

    • (Score: 2) by DannyB on Monday October 22 2018, @03:36PM (6 children)

      by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Monday October 22 2018, @03:36PM (#752010) Journal

      If an officer fears you might take his life, he is allowed to take your life.

      --
      People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.
      • (Score: 5, Insightful) by urza9814 on Monday October 22 2018, @04:50PM (2 children)

        by urza9814 (3954) on Monday October 22 2018, @04:50PM (#752032) Journal

        If you fear the officer might take your life, you're allowed to take his too.

        Good luck getting a court and prosecutor to agree to that though...the problem isn't the text of the law, it's how they're only ever applied against certain people, and how the meaning of words like "reasonable" change depending on the type of uniform being worn by the accused.

        • (Score: 3, Informative) by Thexalon on Monday October 22 2018, @07:44PM (1 child)

          by Thexalon (636) on Monday October 22 2018, @07:44PM (#752115)

          the problem isn't the text of the law

          It kinda is: In many states, the standard for ordinary people to use deadly force is that a reasonable person in this situation would believe that they or another person faced a deadly threat, whereas for cops to use deadly force the standard is that that particular cop believed (reasonably or not) that they faced a deadly threat.

          You might notice the problem here: Even if nobody among the cops, prosecutors, and judges are the slightest bit crooked, it's basically impossible to prove in court what somebody believed several months ago when an incident took place. Evidence like "the cop had no reason whatsoever to think the guy he shot was carrying a gun" or "even the cop's partner thought he was in no way justified" are irrelevant to this standard, because the standard is what was going on in the cop's own head.

          If you fear the officer might take your life, you're allowed to take his too. Good luck getting a court and prosecutor to agree to that though.

          There was a fairly recent Supreme Court case where a guy was acquitted of shooting a cop because the cops didn't announce themselves as police so the homeowner thought he was dealing with a gang of armed robbers and responded accordingly. However, some factors in this case that might not always be present included that the cops had screwed up the home invasion in a bunch of other ways legally speaking, the guy who did the shooting was white, and he stopped shooting when the cops announced themselves to be police.

          --
          The only thing that stops a bad guy with a compiler is a good guy with a compiler.
          • (Score: 2) by sjames on Tuesday October 23 2018, @04:48PM

            by sjames (2882) on Tuesday October 23 2018, @04:48PM (#752524) Journal

            But note, it had to go all the way to the Supreme Court to get there while if a cop shoots someone, it rarely gets to court at all.

      • (Score: 2) by bob_super on Monday October 22 2018, @05:11PM (1 child)

        by bob_super (1357) on Monday October 22 2018, @05:11PM (#752042)

        The way some categories of people breathe is clearly a clear and present danger to some officers.

        • (Score: 2) by DannyB on Monday October 22 2018, @05:14PM

          by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Monday October 22 2018, @05:14PM (#752043) Journal

          Some officers patrol duty should be restricted to safe spaces where they won't be offended. It's a harsh world out there. Especially in a uniform and marked vehicle.

          --
          People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.
      • (Score: 3, Insightful) by sjames on Monday October 22 2018, @08:06PM

        by sjames (2882) on Monday October 22 2018, @08:06PM (#752133) Journal

        The problem is we seem to have too many cops with a markedly hyperactive fear response. (that is, they've turned chicken) They routinely claim that they were afraid some guy too drunk to stand up was going to smash his bottle of bum wine and in an amazing display of grace and coordination, leap ninja like to close the 20 foot gap and kill them before they could get off a shot, so they had to kill him (an actual incident).

        "Justice" claims the cops had a reasonable fear.

        OTOH, cops bust into the wrong house in the dead of night. Cop busts in bedroom door (even though it wasn't locked) and gets shot by the groggy homeowner. DA decides it was a cold blooded cop killing.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 22 2018, @06:01PM (5 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 22 2018, @06:01PM (#752062)

      "I find that police everywhere are cowards and will do anything to benefit themselves and will not put themselves in harm's way for any reason."

      Say that to the officer in my family who stormed into a burning building to save to disabled elderly people from a house fire.

      • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 22 2018, @06:04PM (4 children)

        by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 22 2018, @06:04PM (#752069)

        Basically, officers are people too. With any sufficiently large group there is going to be good apples and bad apples. There are literally millions of police officers, so of course there is going to be some bad ones, like with any group of human beings. You can't weed them all out, it's impossible. Instead of giving all cops a bad rap how about we realize they are humans, and when we find the bad ones they are brought to justice. That last part is what we really need to work on.

        • (Score: 3, Interesting) by HiThere on Monday October 22 2018, @06:22PM (3 children)

          by HiThere (866) Subscriber Badge on Monday October 22 2018, @06:22PM (#752077) Journal

          While this is true, the problem is that many departments actively protect the "bad apples", and at least some actively remove the good officers. (See the W.Virginia officer who was fired for trying to talk a man into putting down his gun. IIRC he was succeeding until a different officer shot the guy.)

          --
          Javascript is what you use to allow unknown third parties to run software you have no idea about on your computer.
          • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 22 2018, @06:28PM

            by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 22 2018, @06:28PM (#752082)

            Exactly why I said we need to work on that part.

          • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 22 2018, @06:52PM (1 child)

            by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 22 2018, @06:52PM (#752094)

            it's even worse than that. the whole system is geared for the "bad apples". ever since the war on drugs started, anyone who volunteers to be a cop is complicit in sedition. in the beginning, most probably didn't realize this. now most of them know they are nothing but armed robbers and slave catchers, but don't care. that's why you are getting more and more bad cops. they used to be good cops who fucked up. now they are bad cops that let it slip out. of course it's still not all of them. some still try to be good cops in a job that is corrupt to it's core. i would only include cops that are brave enough to selectively enforce the law. anyone who tows the line is a piece of shit. it's not just a few bad apples anymore. that's for goddamn sure.

            • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 23 2018, @12:57PM

              by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 23 2018, @12:57PM (#752454)

              I was going to write up a well thought out response, but it's obvious either you are a troll or you have paranoia or other mental issues. Either way you need help.

  • (Score: 5, Insightful) by KilroySmith on Monday October 22 2018, @03:38PM (1 child)

    by KilroySmith (2113) on Monday October 22 2018, @03:38PM (#752012)

    An officer's firearm discharged unexpectedly, fortunately causing no injuries. Out of an abundance of caution, the Police Commissioner has directed that the continued use and distribution of handguns be suspended effective immediately. All officers were instructed to immediately remove their sidearms and bring them back to their commands.

    • (Score: 5, Insightful) by DannyB on Monday October 22 2018, @04:18PM

      by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Monday October 22 2018, @04:18PM (#752027) Journal

      It is well known among police that firearms are not dangerous. Cameras are extremely dangerous. Especially in the hands of non-police persons.

      --
      People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.
  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 22 2018, @04:51PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 22 2018, @04:51PM (#752033)

    No mention of the roofing nail that was found sticking clear though the camera. Nope, the battery just exploded for NO REASON providing a convenient justification to remove all their body cams so their abuses can't be documented.

  • (Score: 2) by All Your Lawn Are Belong To Us on Monday October 22 2018, @05:07PM (4 children)

    by All Your Lawn Are Belong To Us (6553) on Monday October 22 2018, @05:07PM (#752040) Journal
    --
    This sig for rent.
    • (Score: 3, Funny) by All Your Lawn Are Belong To Us on Monday October 22 2018, @05:59PM (3 children)

      by All Your Lawn Are Belong To Us (6553) on Monday October 22 2018, @05:59PM (#752061) Journal

      Oops. Mathesar. *24 hour surrender of Geek Card*

      --
      This sig for rent.
      • (Score: 3, Funny) by AssCork on Monday October 22 2018, @06:20PM (2 children)

        by AssCork (6255) on Monday October 22 2018, @06:20PM (#752076) Journal

        For correcting yourself within the hour, your card is merely suspended.
        However, you missed an opportunity to provide a link to Mathesar [wikipedia.org] so any Level 2 Geek has the ability to challenge you to a duel by keyboard or Fisticuffs [wikipedia.org]. Please note that the use of oversized foam Hulk hands [youtu.be] is encouraged.

        --
        Just popped-out of a tight spot. Came out mostly clean, too.
        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 22 2018, @06:45PM (1 child)

          by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 22 2018, @06:45PM (#752090)

          It's not fisticuffs anymore if you have hulk hands on.

          • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 22 2018, @07:50PM

            by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 22 2018, @07:50PM (#752119)

            you will be fisted to the cuffs by hulk hands

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 22 2018, @07:26PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 22 2018, @07:26PM (#752105)

    Police Officer cannot tell difference between pants and camera.

  • (Score: 5, Touché) by Revek on Monday October 22 2018, @09:53PM

    by Revek (5022) on Monday October 22 2018, @09:53PM (#752193)

    They going to put them all on foot.

    --
    This page was generated by a Swarm of Roaming Elephants
(1)