Ford City Now Records Police Calls With Cameras
Ford City Police Officer Zachariah Davis reaches to turn on his police cruiser’s dash cam and his body camera. Officer Davis said he has used the cameras during a traffic stop last week. He stated the cameras “were a great tool” to ensure both a police officer’s safety as well as for the safety of the general public. (photo by Jonathan Weaver)
by David Croyle
The Ford City Police Department is now monitoring traffic stops and interaction with the public through the use of new body and dash cameras that were recently purchased.
Total expenditure for the new technology was only $400 for four body cameras and two dash cameras, but Police Chief Roger Wright feels it is worth the price.
“They are very important. I think everybody sees what’s going on these days with police and the public. We just want people to know that we are going to be held responsible for our actions, but they will also help the public. It’s for officer safety and public safety as well.”
When an officer pulls over a vehicle, the dash cam records a full view of the vehicle, the police interaction with the driver, and even the license plate of the vehicle. The body cam then shows close up interaction of person interacting with the officer.
“The officer will turn on (the body camera) any time they have interaction with the public. Obviously, if it is safety concern that they cannot get the camera turned on right away, whether it be somebody fighting with them, or anything of that nature, turning the body camera on is secondary to officer safety.”
Wright said the information is recorded directly onto an SD card contained in the camera itself. He said it is conspicuous and easily seen.
“It is on their outer person. You will see it if they approach you.
Wright said the police officer is not obligated to inform the driver at a vehicle stop that the recording is being made. However, it is different if police go into a home.
“If you go into a residence where there is an expectation of privacy, at that point if they tell you to turn it off, (we) turn it off.”
In an age where people are making regular videos from their cell phones and even recording the actions of officers, Wright said he is not concerned about public reaction.
“It doesn’t bother me as an individual, and it shouldn’t bother my officers either because you should be acting the same way whether you are on camera, or not on camera.”
Wright said the recorded information is stored on the police computer system that only himself and Sergeant Jon Freel have access. The length of time it is stored depends on the event.
“It depends on what the information is. If it is something that has no substance, we’ve got a 90-day hold on it. With anything that has substance, we play it (decide) by when the case is disposed of.”
Wright said the information is safe-guarded within the police department and does not expect their equipment to be compromised through someone hacking into it via the Internet.
Wright said the cameras - which cost about $400 - were received late-last week and implemented after a Standard Operating Procedure guideline was complete and signed.
Body cameras have not been used to retrieve specific information yet.
Ford City, Local News | David Croyle July 26, 2016
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