Digital Cop Cams Will Be Watching
IBM Global Services is offering police departments a new digital video recording system meant to replace cassette-based systems.
Several departments have been testing IBM’s digital video solution and the Yakima, Wash., police department is the first to sign up.
The system costs the same as a traditional analog set-up, but is much easier to manage. Officers would check out hard drives at the beginning of their shifts and typically record between two and four hours of video.
Unlike traditional systems that activate when officers turn on their cruiser’s flashers, the IBM system would automatically save previous minutes of footage before each event.
Instead of just watching video of the police officer talking to the suspect, the evidence could show the actual infraction. In addition, the IBM system integrates with radar readings and global positioning satellite systems.
People searching for footage can use those metatags to find particular segments stored in the archives.
IBM Global Services public safety and security consultant Gary Crowell says the ability to search archives quickly is the real value-add in the digital video system. “The compelling piece is not about digitizing video, but about making it easier to manage the video,” he says. “The cost of the unit right now is approximately the same as a ruggedized laptop and an analog system. Your real savings lie in looking for video that they [district attorney] needs.”
Yakima Police Capt. Jeff Schneider says management headaches were exactly the reason the department did not have even a cassette-based system before. The IBM solution has authentication measures to ensure no one tampers with the video, as well as procedural mechanisms making the video admissible in court.
Abstracted by the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center(NLECTC) from CNet (05/14/03); Lemos, Robert.