“Hands up, don’t shoot!” and “I can’t breathe!” are phrases that have donned the news headlines and spoken by protesters on city streets around the country in response to the deaths of two unarmed black men, Michael Brown and Erik Garner, killed by white police officers.
In Ferguson, Missouri, the death of Michael Brown has generated a high level of mistrust between law enforcement and its communities about what actually happened leading up to Brown’s death, and has prompted a public outcry for law enforcement officers to wear body cameras.
[youtube]http://youtu.be/VqEslWtKrM0[/youtube]
President Obama has stepped in and requested for $263 million to be used for body cameras, training for officers and more resources for police department reform. “As part of this initiative, a new Body Worn Camera Partnership Program would provide a 50 percent match to States/localities who purchase body worn cameras and requisite storage. Overall, the proposed $75 million investment over three years could help purchase 50,000 body worn cameras,” according The White House press release.
Scottsdale-based TASER, the developer of electrical weapons for law enforcement, announced today the flood of large orders coming in from police departments around the country for the AXON body camera and EVIDENCE.com, a cloud-based storage for evidence captured via AXON.
RELATED: Top tech tricks used by officers
Earlier this year a pilot study conducted by TASER, in conjunction with the Mesa Police Department, revealed the use of AXON body cameras reduced the number of citizen complaints by 40 percent and resulted in a 75 percent reduction of use of force by officers. Complaints were also resolved quickly due to the EVIDENCE.com program. Another study, reported by The New York Times, conducted by the Police Foundation and Rialto, California police department, the use of body cameras resulted in an 88 percent decline in reports filed against officers and officers used force 60 percent less often.
The most recent police departments that purchased devices include:
- Chula Vista Police Department (CA): 118 AXON body cameras with five years of Evidence.com and TASER Assurance Plan
- Pueblo Police Department (CO): 113 AXON body cameras with five years of EVIDENCE.com and TASER Assurance Plan
- Livermore Police Department (CA): 100 AXON flex cameras with five years of EVIDENCE.com
- Dallas-Fort Worth Int’l Airport (TX): 100 AXON flex cameras with five years of EVIDENCE.com, add-on order
- Fort Myers Police Department (FL): 42 AXON flex cameras with five years of EVIDENCE.com and TASER Assurance Plan
- City of Cocoa Police Department (FL): 42 AXON flex cameras with five years of EVIDENCE.com, add-on order
- Poplar Bluff Police Department (MO): 39 AXON body cameras with five years of EVIDENCE.com
- Harrisonburg Police Department (VA): 30 AXON flex cameras with five years of EVIDENCE.com
- Virginia Commonwealth University Police (VA): 25 AXON flex cameras with five years of EVIDENCE.com and TASER Assurance Plan
READ: I want to learn more about TASER and it’s devices
Graphics provided by TASER International
Disclaimer: I own a mini amount of stock in TASER