Comment Re:why start after the fact? (Score 1) 219
After the fact is well past the circumstances of the situation.
At issue in almost all cases is the context and provocation.
Body cameras should trigger as soon as the officer leaves his vehicle.
Vehicles should have a continuous data stream in 360 degrees and
the vehicle data needs to be archived in the vehicle and also sent
as a stream to a safe archive. Interruption of the feed is likely as we
often see on live news spots but there is no reason the live cannot be
refreshed and or VALIDATED from a vehicle retaining a 100% precise full
record (cross validation of both is very possible).
The capacity and reliability of fast Flash memory removes historic concerns
about capacity in a portable device. In addition the vehicle location GPS+inerta
speed acceleration can be logged. Acceleration, seatbelt latch and unlatch, lights
and sirens can also trigger a variety of logging and notification events.
The critical issue is that the data be tamper proof by the officer and can be
downloaded and archived non destructively by others. i.e by supervisors and other
investigators arriving late to document the site. Multiple copies minimizes tamper risk.
A lot of this depends on products being available but cost and functionality are very
possible. Vehicles are not power constrained so it makes sense to anchor
a lot of features there.
Power and charging via breakaway clips removes dead battery mumble foo excuses.