Electronics

Holster sensor activates cop's body cam when weapon is drawn

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The device automatically triggers body cams when the officer draws their weapon
The device automatically triggers body cams when the officer draws their weapon
The wireless sensor is powered by a coin cell battery that the company says will last about 1.5 years
TASER International

A new sensor designed for law enforcement can alert an officer's body cameras to start recording automatically when a weapon is drawn. The Axon Signal Sidearm from TASER International is a wireless sensor that attaches to an existing police firearm holster and integrates with the company's Axon line of dash cameras, body cams and other wearable cameras.

When a gun is drawn from a holster with the sensor, it triggers all Axon cameras within 30 feet (9.1 m) to start recording, simultaneously providing a record of events from different perspectives without the officer having to remember to press any buttons.

The wireless sensor is powered by a coin cell battery that the company says will last about 1.5 years
TASER International

The wireless sensor is powered by a coin cell battery that the company says will last about 1.5 years, alerting the Axon network when it needs replacing.

A 2016 study found that complaints against police officers drop significantly when a body camera records an incident. Similar wireless systems exist that record timestamp and geolocation data for firearm use, but they don't trigger any other sort of recording.

The company says the Signal Sidearm will be available for purchase in Q3 2017.

Source: Taser International

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2 comments
Koolski
While I'm a huge body cam supporter, I don't like this idea. I'd rather have the camera on all the time. Statistics show that body cams change both the way people interact with the police and how the police interact with the public. It holds everyone accountable 100% of the time.
ljaques
+1, Koolski2. Body cams on cops should be on for all but donut and pee breaks. And as soon as all cops have cams, the wrongful death lawsuits will stop because the 0.01% of cops who -are- bad will either be caught or stop being bad. If bad guys go after firemen who are trying to do their job, firemen could be cammed, too. Let's catch the perps once and for all.