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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
(Score: 3, Insightful) by sjames on Monday October 22 2018, @08:06PM
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.