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Lily Hay Newman reports that the LAPD has ordered 3,000 Tasers that, when discharged, will automatically activate cameras on officers' uniforms, which will create visual records of incidents at a time of mounting concern about excessive force by U.S. law enforcement officers. The new digital Taser X26P weapons record the date, time and duration of firing, and whether Taser wires actually strike suspects and how long the thousands of volts of electricity pulse through them. “This technology gives a much better picture of what happens in the field,” says Steve Tuttle. The idea of using a Taser discharge as a criterion for activating body cams is promising, especially as more and more police departments adopt body cams and struggle to establish guidelines for when they should be on or off. Police leadership—i.e., chiefs and upper management—is far more supportive of the technology and tends to view body-worn cameras as a tool for increasing accountability and reducing civil liability. On the other hand, the patrol officer culture is concerned that the technology will be an unfair intrusion into their routine activities—for instance, it might invite over-managing minor policy violations. "In addition to these new Taser deployments, we plan to issue a body-worn camera and a Taser device to every officer," says Police Chief Charlie Beck. "It is our goal to make these important tools available to every front line officer over the next few years."
(Score: 4, Interesting) by opinionated_science on Sunday January 11 2015, @02:57PM
This seems reasonable. I don't buy the "batteries might not last". That's simply not true. LEO's are not hiking the wilderness...
The public key encryption is a good idea, If the video is signed by the chief it could play part of chain of evidence. The private keys can be held by the DA who can be legally held to account for misuse.
The point is the vast number of police who are honest have nothing to fear from this. We want them to understand this is going to rebuild trust, because they will know that the badge is actually a responsibility not just a paycheck.
As an aside, when bad things happen, these "evidence quality" cameras might be of exceptional forensic use.
My $0.02...
(Score: 2) by Joe Desertrat on Sunday January 11 2015, @06:45PM
The point is the vast number of police who are honest have nothing to fear from this.
Seeing as the authorities have been telling us for years that if we [the public] aren't doing anything wrong we have nothing to worry about, I doubt the cops are going to fall for that one.
(Score: 2) by frojack on Sunday January 11 2015, @08:17PM
The difference is, they (police) don't have a choice. Conditions of employment.
Besides, cameras reveal an discourage bad citizen behavior FAR more often than they reveal or discourage bad police behavior. And they provide evidence of crimes against officers (assault, resisting arrest) far more often than they reveal crimes by officers.
Most departments have seen the light, and are adopting them voluntarily, even though some officers object.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 1) by Anal Pumpernickel on Monday January 12 2015, @04:40AM
Crimes are not always wrong, and what counts as an abuse depends on the situation. I'd say enforcing unjust, unconstitutional laws or police enforcing some unconstitutional policy (drug laws, insane asset forfeiture, DUI checkpoints, shoving people off into free speech zones, stop-and-frisk, harassing someone over a bomb joke, etc.) is an example of the government abusing people. Someone "resisting arrest" tells me little about the situation because apparently Eric Garner was "resisting arrest," despite doing almost nothing. The cops just escalate situations, people end up hurt or dead, and then the victims are blamed for not doing exactly what the cops said, as if the cops have the power to dish out any punishment if you even slightly oppose them.
(Score: 2) by frojack on Monday January 12 2015, @05:11AM
Eric Garner was "resisting arrest," despite doing almost nothing.
Another idiot that didn't watch the whole video, instead of just the riot inciting portion.
He did in fact resist arrest, vigorously.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 1) by Anal Pumpernickel on Monday January 12 2015, @06:33AM
No, he barely did anything. I watched the video. If you call waving your hands around and telling cops to back off "resisting arrest," then you're part of the problem. And, again, even if that counts as "resisting arrest," cops have no legitimate authority to use such excessive force in such a minor case.
I hope you're not just a big government bootlicker.
(Score: 2) by frojack on Monday January 12 2015, @07:24AM
He refused to get in the car,
He refused to submit to handcuffs
When you are placed under arrest, "you sir them out" Yes sir, No sir.
Then you get your revenge in court. That is your compact with society.
Don't agree with that bargain? Fine. You spend your life in jail.
When all is said and done, and you've disavowed all the laws we live under, it all comes down to brute force.
Civilization is enforced by brute force. The majority will prevail, and you will be in jail or a grave.
If you can change the mind of the majority you might get them to see your point of view, but you won't do that from jail.
You do not start fighting with the police.
That will never end well for you.
If you understand nothing else in your life, learn that: Fighting with the police will never end well for you. You will never improve your lot in life, or any one else's. You will never win that way.
Get a job, get elected, make the laws.
You will never win any other way.
Oh, and Grow UP.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 1) by Anal Pumpernickel on Monday January 12 2015, @07:48AM
He refused to get in the car,
He refused to submit to handcuffs
Yes, and? What's your point? At no point did I see anything which justified such an excessive show of force.
Don't agree with that bargain? Fine. You spend your life in jail.
I don't recall "resisting arrest" as being big enough of a deal to have to spend your entire life in jail. Even our awful, corrupt system isn't that bad.
If you understand nothing else in your life, learn that: Fighting with the police will never end well for you.
As many people have learned when dealing with thugs: Comply or die. So you are correct. But it's not like this specific individual was actually "fighting" in any real sense of the word.
You will never win any other way.
Wait, you need to be elected to "win"? History seems to show that you don't need to be elected, but you do usually need some parasitic politicians on your side, at least. Plenty of people who achieved great things were never elected.
Oh, and Grow UP.
I won't tell you to grow up, but I will tell you to stop being a bootlicking authoritarian who mindlessly appeals to law and then rants about how you should change the majority's mind as if you're being the least bit insightful. In case it isn't obvious, basically everyone realizes the minority is in trouble unless they have the support of the ignorant, apathetic majority. Good luck getting it.
Oh, your entire family was unjustly murdered by police, and they got off scott-free? Well, obviously you should get a job, get elected, and then maybe you'll win. In case you didn't realize, it's probably a good thing to get the majority on your side. Oh, and grow up and stop whining about government abuses; who the hell does that in a country that's supposed to be "the land of the free and the home of the brave"? Obviously, no one should, because we don't take too kindly to people who don't mindlessly defend the government here.