Officers Push to Get Digital Video in Cars
The Aiken County, SC, Sheriff’s Office intends to replaces its patrol cars’ VHS cameras with digital ones. The move is needed because VCR technology is becoming obsolete.
The new cameras will be compact, and they will be built into the vehicle’s rearview mirrors, according to officials. The mirror can be activated to view the monitor, or deactivated to appear like an ordinary mirror.
The digital cameras also feature no moving parts, and there is no need to handle any tape.
Pictures and sounds are recorded onto a 16-hour flash disc that can be placed in any PC for viewing. The data can also be downloaded for delivery via e-mail.
The new process eliminates the need to remove the VHS tape, burn it on a disc, and hand-deliver it, officials say.
The new cameras can also pinpoint the site of physical evidence by using a grid, and wireless microphones in the camera, the back seat, and on officers creates an audio log, officials say.
Each digital camera costs about $4,000 and features one camera that points to the front and another positioned towards the back.
Abstracted by the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center (NLECTC) from the Augusta Chronicle (GA); 05/30/07; P. B1; Guffey, Michelle.
