Staff Writer
In
the wake of the Mike Brown police shooting and controversy over what police
officers can and can’t do, Durham Police Department officers have installed cameras
in many of their patrol cars. The
cameras are located on the dashboard and in the backseat of the vehicles. While the cameras aren’t always activated,
they are turned on when the emergency lights are activated, when the car goes over
85 miles per hour, and if the car is involved in a wreck. The footage captured by the cameras is
uploaded to a server and kept for a month before it is deleted. However, the footage will be kept longer if
it is being used in a criminal investigation.
Microphones are also attached to the bodies of the officers. These microphones capture audio when the
officers are out of their cars.
The
cameras have been installed to create more transparency in the police
department. Durham citizens, and people
all around the country, want to see what their law enforcement officers are
doing. On top of the Mike Brown
shooting, the shooting suicide of 17 year old Jesus Huerta in the back of a
Durham police vehicle led to people wanting cameras to be installed. Outside of
showing that the police are open about their methods and activities, the
cameras have other uses as well. They
can be used for training exercises and help ensure the safety of police
officers. Mike Andrews, the Durham
sheriff, said that “In-car cameras are an important way to advance law
enforcement training efforts and promote transparency…” While these cameras have made people feel
safer, some people are still unsatisfied and feel that all officers should be required
to wear cameras.
