LAKE OF THE OZARKS, Mo. — Events in Ferguson, Missouri were often the lead story for national and local news outlets, bringing to the forefront questions about the use of deadly force and police accountability. One solution much talked about is the use of body cameras for police officers and sheriff deputies. A camera can document the interaction between law officers and the public; it can also deter both citizen and officer when emotions run high--at least, those are the underlying principles for their use. Edward Jones Investments - Rob UngerBerkshire Hathaway - Lake Ozark Realty 300x - Mobile Eleven police and sheriff’s departments serve and protect in Camden, Miller and Morgan counties. Of those eleven, only two, Lake Ozark and Linn Creek, currently have body cameras in use. Seven have experience with cameras in cars or trucks; those departments include Camden County, Osage Beach, Camdenton, Eldon, Morgan County, Laurie, and Versailles. Of all the local departments using cameras, none regrets their purchase or use. But video technology presents unique challenges to be factored into the equation about whether the use of precious resources is worth it. In a cost-benefit analysis, cost often wins the argument. Cost The cost to purchase body cameras ranges from several hundred dollars per camera to several thousand. Miller County has even used eBay to buy used cameras for cars, to defray costs. Still, a camera is not the only departmental cost. The filmed evidence must also be managed, organized, and stored. In addition, some cameras have short memories. In other words, the memory card has a limited run, sometimes requiring officers to turn off the camera when they are not engaged with a citizen. Versailles Police Chief Chad Hartman notes that turning off a car camera may result in no video footage simply because of human error--forgetting to turn it back on--or the inability to activate the camera in an emergency. Newer technology at a higher cost provides a camera that will activate and run from radio contact to resolution, but such technology requires an upgrade if the department has already purchased cameras or an initial cost of approximately $2,000 per officer.
Posted on: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 03:39:07 +0000
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