Police Body Cameras Gaining Ground

taser_body_cam_front_1_low_res_largeFrom the recent TASER International Axon body camera sales I have attached below, you can deduce that the new fiscal year has begun and that many agencies are following through with police body cam purchases.  While some local, state, and federal jurisdictions are wrestling with the seemingly mutually exclusive issues of police transparency and citizens’ privacy rights, other departments are moving forward, no doubt some under urgent public pressure.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office’s request appears to make it the largest Florida department to pen a substantial purchase order.  As for other major agencies, where cost can be a prohibitive factor, Miami-Dade Police have $5 million earmarked for future body cams.  Broward Sheriff Scott Israel has said his office lacks the funding, but he will ask for additional money from his county commission.

Tampa Police have finished a trial program, and have expressed an interest in greater implementation.  Jacksonville S.O. has no plans to buy cameras at this time, citing privacy concerns and budget.  St. Petersburg Police Chief Tony Holloway is co-chair of the American Bar Association’s task force on body cameras, though Holloway has stated that his department will not be implementing camera use anytime soon due to legal questions.

Video and audio recording of the police is a growth industry.  TASER’s Axon sales are soaring and conglomerate Safariland Group has purchased VIEVU.  Digital Ally has been up and down, but are forecasting $25 million in sales this year.

Once upon a time, semi-automatic pistols and portable radios for law enforcement were science fiction.  A personal recording device may well be in your future before you hit the DROP…

Randall

Denver Police Department (CO): 800 Axon Flex cameras with five years of Evidence.com and TASER Assurance Plan (TAP). (At the direction of the department, 200 body cameras were shipped in Q3 and the remaining 600 cameras will be shipped in Q1 2016)

Orange County Sheriff’s Office (FL): 660 Axon Flex cameras with five years of Evidence.com and TAP (At the direction of the department, 150 Flex cameras will be shipped in Q4 2015, 150 cameras will be shipped in Q1 2016 and the remaining 360 cameras will be shipped in Q2 2016)

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (NV): 546 Axon Flex with five years of Evidence.com and TAP, add-on order
San Diego County District Attorney’s Office (CA): 465 Standard Prosecutor Licenses with five years of Evidence.com and a one year deal made up of 20 Pro Prosecutor Licenses

Tempe Police Department (AZ): 340 Axon Flex with five years of Evidence.com and TAP (At the direction of the department, 110 body cameras will be shipped in Q4 2015 and the remaining 230 cameras will be shipped in Q1 2016)

Horry County Police Department (SC): 325 Axon Body cameras with one year of Evidence.com

Montgomery County Police Department (MD): 280 Axon Flex and Body cameras with five years of Evidence.com and TAP, add-on order

Elizabeth Police Department (NJ): 250 Axon Body cameras with five years of Evidence.com and TAP

Linden Police Department (NJ): 100 Axon Body cameras with five years of Evidence.com and TAP

Binghamton Police Department (NY): 90 Axon Body cameras with five years of Evidence.com and TAP

Plainfield Police Department (NJ): 92 Axon Body cameras with five years of Evidence.com and TAP

Bristol Police Department (CT): 90 Axon Body cameras with five years of Evidence.com on the Officer Safety Plan

Arizona State University Police Department (AZ): 80 Axon Body cameras with five years of Evidence.com and TAP

Paducah Police Department (KY): 67 Axon Body cameras with five years of Evidence.com and TAP

Grants Pass Department of Public Safety (OR): 55 Axon Flex cameras with Axon Signal with 5 years of Evidence.com and TAP

Ansonia Police Department (CT): 50 Axon Body cameras with five years of Evidence.com on the Officer Safety Plan

Janesville Police Department (WI): 44 Axon Flex cameras with five years of Evidence.com

Salinas Police Department (CA): 42 Axon Body cameras with five years of Evidence.com, add-on order

Gillette Police Department (WY): 40 Axon Flex cameras with Axon Signal with five years of Evidence.com

Bay City Police Department (MI): 35 Axon Body cameras with five years of Evidence.com and TAP

Coolidge Police Department (AZ): 30 Axon Body cameras with five years of Evidence.com and TAP

Gloucester City Police Department (NJ): 30 Axon Body cameras with five years of Evidence.com and TAP

Hallandale Police Department (FL): 28 Axon Flex cameras with five years of Evidence.com and TAP

Photo and stats:  TASER International

 

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