Hi,
Michael S. Lorrey wrote:
> Spike Jones wrote:
> >
> > Ross A. Finlayson wrote:
> >
> > > I would say it would be a good idea for those that carry guns for government
> > > carry recording devices that were both required to be on when on duty,
> >
> > It would be easy with current technology to make gun-cams for all the
> > cops, that starts recording the second the weapon is withdrawn from
> > the holster. Would *anyone* object to such a thing? spike
>
> I wouldn't. Considering how much more likely a cop is to kill an
> innocent person than a gun carrying civilian at a crime scene, it would
> definitely help prevent cover-ups as well as contribute to better on the
> job training using the video footage in 'hogans alley' type shooting
> training.
>
I don't think anyone would object to all police guns being recorded. However, I
don't see why not to record all on-duty activities.
>
> However, I'd recommend that the cameras be turned on in any of the
> following circumstances:
> a) whenever the cop wants to turn it on
> b) whenever his heart rate/bp rise above a certain level
> c) whenever the dispatcher remotely activates it
> d) whenever the vehicle siren is activated
Recording should just be on all the time. Currently, many state troopers carry
radios, the first step is to supply them with one that records continuously. The
next step after that is video inputs.
>
> THe camera could only be turned off under the following conditions:
> a) the cops heart rate/bp drops below a certain level
> b) the dispatcher or others at the precinct deactivate it
> c) the vehicle sirens and/or lights are turned off
> d) there are no prisoners held in the vehicle
>
> By the time a situation has deteriorated to the point where a cop needs
> to pull out his gun, there have already been things occuring that are
> contributing to the situation and should be recorded to determine if the
> cop was correct in a feeling that the situation had escalated, and that
> he had done whatever he could prior to that to not need to pull the gun.
Due to the marginal cost of storage, there will be little point to ever turn it
off. Admittedly, and happily, that will yield a lot of boring tape, most of it
never reviewed, but otherwise it is not a tool of the people.
If the record is automatically recorded locally and sent almost immediately to a
central location, then there would be few lost tapes, and any would be irregular and
subject for internal investigation.
There is no point to ever record anywhere else, because Americans are by default
considered innocent. So, to whatever extent the government does, it is violating
the rules of search.
You can read some of my previous posts about shopping mall cameras for more of my
views of private non-government sponsored monitoring.
Ross
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Thu Jul 27 2000 - 14:09:02 MDT