Cameras Could Record Police-Involved Shootings
MYFOXNY.COM — A state senator in New York who is also a former New York City police officer has proposed putting mini-cameras on police handguns to help resolve contested police-involved shootings, such as those in the cases of Sean Bell (killed in 2006 in a hail of 50 shots) and Amadou Diallo (killed in 1999 in a barrage of 41 shots). Both men were apparently unarmed.
Sen. Eric Adams, a Brooklyn Democrat, is seeking support for the cameras, which would cost $695 each. He said New York would be the first to mandate the cameras. The Newburgh, N.Y., police department is currently testing the pistol cameras.
The camera, called the PistolCam, would follow the gun barrel’s movement and include a laser targeting pointer and a light. It can record up to 60 minutes of digital video and sound, according to the company’s Web site.
The camera and lights would start just over a second after the officer pulls the handgun from the holster. The cop could turn off the light, but the camera and optional audio recording would continue.
The New York City Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, the union that represents uniformed police officers of the NYPD, had no immediate comment.
In 2006, Adams retired from the NYPD as a captain. He is also the co-founder of 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care, a group of law enforcement personnel and supporters who provide funding and grants to community-based organizations.
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State Senator Proposes Mini-Cameras for NYPD Handguns // May 19, 2008 at 10:28 pm
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