Police Department Adopting Pistol Cameras For Their Officers

WILLIAMS, AZ — Northern Arizona law enforcement may be getting an interesting addition to their equipment with a new program aimed at law enforcement accountability.

Williams Police Department is participating in the Viridian Weapon Technologies Law Enforcement pilot program, reports KPNX.

The program aims at giving more evidence for review in law enforcement-involved shootings by equipping cameras to firearms, giving direct evidence as to exactly what happens in a shooting.

“There’s nothing more transparent than a camera on a gun,” said Lt. Darrell Hixson of the Williams Police Department according to KPNX.

The information stored on the camera mount is secured and set up in such a way that it can theoretically only be accessed by proper authorities. It also has a flashlight and begins to record immediately after it has been drawn from the holster.

“The best feature is that it turns on automatically,” said Brian Hedeen, CEO Viridian Weapon Technologies, according to KPNX.

“So he doesn’t have to decide, am I going to turn this on or not, or in an rapidly evolving situation he won’t have to think and take the time and wait to say let me activate the camera.”

The department has reportedly been using the equipment for weeks now, but the jury’s still out on whether or not they’ll go forward with the program on  more permanent basis.

Many police departments across the country make use of body cameras, and although the merits of this particular form of recording relative to body cameras are not immediately apparent to me, it’s not hard to find oneself in favor of devices that not only provide accountability to law enforcement, but give our peace officers powerful defense against those who would accuse them of wrongdoing unjustly.

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