New Technology Offers Second Set of Eyes to Law Enforcement Officers
By: Paige Preusse
Updated: June 18, 2012
A new device is serving as a second set of eyes for a Valley police department.
NBC-2's Paige Preusse takes a look at the new technology being used by Clinton, Ind. Police,and explains why it helps them.
It's this clear footage that came from a new law enforcement tool commonly called a body camera.
"From time to time we get complaints about officers who did or did not do something,and it's their word against the person making the complaint," said Clinton Police Chief Perry Hollowell
That's when officer Hollowell decided to look into these new compact devices, so criminals can't dispute the truth.
"They're a great asset to our department...when we're writing reports and when we have to go to court," said Austin Wolfe with the Clinton Police Department.
The 2012 body cameras are designed to work as a hand held video camera, and are also activated through a voice sytem.
Officers say each device costs around $100 dollars, but say with the success they've seen just in the first week of use...they're worth more than that.
"We went in to take children out of homes and we have record of what the home looked like when we went in...so that can't be disputed in court," Hollowell said.
"If we cover a domestic abuse case... when there's two sides to the story and you're actually able to get both sides," said Wolfe.
Because it's only been a week since the Clinton Police Department started using the new devices,
they say the department still has a lot to learn about handling the technology.