The following is paid content sponsored by Digital Ally.
By Police1 Staff
Law enforcement agencies continue to adopt body-camera programs in order to safeguard police and capture video evidence of incidents.
While installing body cameras is a snap, it is essential you ask these five important questions to determine how to best use body cameras at your department.
1. How do I choose the optimal mounting location so it captures what I need for evidence?
There are only a few places an officer can mount their body camera in order to capture the best angle of an incident. So, it is important body cameras provide the flexibility to be mounted in various locations.
One way is on the head, which provides better insight into what the officer sees during an incident. But that requires the officer wears his or her hat the entire time. In addition, if the officer looks away, the camera may miss some of the action.
The torso is considered more comfortable and convenient by most officers. Different torso locations should be tested to find the optimal placement based on a specific officer’s shooting stance.
Digital Ally FirstVu HD body cameras provide a range of torso mounts, head mounts and camera options to accommodate different officers’ needs.
2. If I don’t record an incident, is it possible I can be accused of using excessive force?
Why should you set your body cameras to record at the beginning of an incident? Because doing so means capturing an incident from start to finish, providing a law enforcement agency with hard video evidence about the criminal act and how the officer handled themselves —protecting the officer and the department from liability.
The best way to avoid this is to automate the process. Having it automated means an officer doesn’t have to stop his or her interaction, find the record button, then engage with the suspect. They don’t have to worry whether their camera is protecting them from accusations of excessive force from a suspect.
Digital Ally’s FirstVu HD body camera can be automated. This includes being triggered by activity within a vehicle, such as activating a light bar or even opening a door, via the company’s VuLink Body Cam In-Car Video Link that automatically starts FirstVu seamlessly.
This innovative system protects officers as it ensures the video is recording the incident.
3. Is it risky if I rely solely on my body camera footage?
Regardless of how mobile body cameras are, they still only capture a flat representation of what is in front of the lens. This means it does not capture a full 360-degree view of an incident and, depending on the intensity of the incident, can be knocked off the officer.
That’s why it is important to use multiple systems in conjunction for the best insight into an incident. This includes combining body cameras with in-car video, which provides a more stable, pulled-back view that includes the officers, subjects while in the back seat of the patrol car and more.
4. If I use a lower resolution camera, will I miss evidence?
Why do you need to invest in higher resolution cameras?
Because, users can see video evidence in more detail and that may be critical in uncovering clues in an investigation. Digital Ally’s FirstVu records high-quality SD or 720p HD H.264 video, letting viewers see more details in the video when using it for evidence purposes during official investigations and court proceedings.
For example, using high-resolution cameras, investigators can identify subjects and vehicles clearly that were not immediately in front of the camera. This also could be used to better identify a witness’ face.
5. How can I tell if my body camera will record as much as I need over the course of the whole shift?
Everyone who works shift jobs knows the importance of having a battery that can last through a long day. This becomes especially true in law enforcement, as officers and special teams can sometimes be involved in incidents that last longer than a normal shift.
In selecting a body camera, make sure its battery life is adequate for the situations your officers are likely to encounter in daily policing.
For example, Digital Ally’s battery lasts up to 72 hours while the unit is powered on and has a field-replaceable, rechargeable battery. This keeps officers working and not worried about the battery on their body camera.
It is important you know the answers to the above question to help roll out a successful body camera program and invest in the right body camera system. Digital Ally’s video hardware and software tools can help.