Next step on police cameras

policecameraThe Wichita City Council will consider today whether to proceed with the purchase and installation of eight in-car video cameras for the Police Department, the next step in a pilot program approved last year to be focused on cars used in traffic enforcement. The proposed $75,000 contract with Lenexa-based ICOP Digital Inc. has been long in coming to Wichita, but the cameras are a law enforcement best practice in other communities. Once installed, the cameras should shed light on what happens in public-police interactions and protect both officers and citizens from false charges.

5 Comments

  1. Mary_Caruso
    Posted June 10, 2008 at 8:45 am | Permalink

    Great idea…I’ve been stopped by a cop late at night that was out of control and trying to make me do something that he could arrest me for…talk about being scared. He finally let me go when he realized I wasn’t going to feed into his crazyness. I would have felt much safer if he had a camera on his car.

  2. Monkeyhawk
    Posted June 10, 2008 at 9:00 am | Permalink

    Yeah, “Mary_Caruso” –

    I understand the “Big Brother” implications of the issue, and they are a bit disconcerting.

    On the other hand, if there were cameras replacing real live cops on every corner, I personally think my behavior would pass muster; same as if there were a real live cop standing up the street.

    I have no problem with traffic light cameras. I don’t object to surveillant cameras in public spaces.

    The only-est reason people turn to crime is the thought they might get away with it.

    I had a cup of coffee not long ago with a couple of cops who insisted they weren’t working under the pressure of “quotas.” No. It’s now called “enforcement by objective.” (In other words, a “quota.”) If their particular patrol assignment didn’t generate as many tickets and infractions as previous officers’ they were punished. And if they’d done their job properly (i.e., discourage and prevent law-breaking), they were punished.

    As far as I’m considered, put ‘em all on camera: crooks and cops.

  3. Political_mama
    Posted June 10, 2008 at 10:16 am | Permalink

    I want police cars to have cameras but 75k for 8?

    Come on.

  4. KansasNative
    Posted June 10, 2008 at 9:47 pm | Permalink

    I just want the cameras that are already mounted on the traffic lights to be plugged in.

    Why have them if they don’t work? Crazy!

  5. bkm1890
    Posted June 12, 2008 at 5:30 am | Permalink

    KansasNative – those aren’t cameras for red light runners. They are only sensors to tell the light when to cycle. They replaced the sensors that used to be in the street.

    And, $75,000 to catch only a fraction of what officers do everyday? If the “action” isn’t right in front of the car, the cameras are useless. What about when they are at your house, at a store with a shoplifter etc? I know a cop pretty well and he makes 1 maybe 2 car stops a night. The rest of the time a camera on the dash is an expensive peice of dash decoration.

6 Trackbacks

  1. By cameras program on June 22, 2008 at 3:55 am

    cameras program…

    I am very impressed with your site. The quality of the design and content makes it a real winner! Thanks again for a great site and a great resource on the net Free Mp3 Download….

  2. By Lost Drive Blog » Comment on Next step on police cameras by Dell Computers Free … on June 29, 2008 at 6:05 am

    [...] unknown: [...]

  3. By Comment on Next step on police cameras by Lost Drive Blog … on June 29, 2008 at 6:58 am

    [...] Extreme Mortman wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt[…] unknown: […] [...]

  4. By Comment on Next step on police cameras by Dell Computers Free … on June 29, 2008 at 6:59 am

    [...] unknown wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptDell Computers Free Educational Time Games On The Computer North Dakota Lamoure Computer Animation Camp Charge… I didn’t agree with you first, but last paragraph makes sense for me… [...]

  5. By Comment on Next step on police cameras by Dell Computers Free … on July 9, 2008 at 4:37 pm

    [...] Comment on Next step on police cameras by Dell Computers Free … Dell Computers Free Educational Time Games On The Computer North Dakota Lamoure Computer Animation Camp Charge… I didn’t agree with you first, but last paragraph makes sense for me… [...]

  6. By Comment on Next step on police cameras by Comment on Next step on … on July 9, 2008 at 5:27 pm

    [...] unknown wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptComment on Next step on police cameras by Dell Computers Free … Dell Computers Free Educational Time Games On The Computer North Dakota Lamoure Computer Animation Camp Charge… I didn’t agree with you first, but last paragraph makes … [...]