ROANOKE (WSLS 10) - Events like Ferguson have sparked a nationwide movement within the bureaus of our armed forces.
It's why Roanoke City Police said they have pushed for more than 150 body cameras. But, police department leaders said that isn't enough, they need more.
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Essentially every officer will be assigned and wear one H-D Wolfcom body camera while on duty. All too often officers experience a view of a situation unraveling in a matter of seconds. These new devices serve as another set of eyes.
"When this camera's on, what it will do is vibrate," said Roanoke City Police Chief Chris Perkins. Body cameras can't capture 360 degrees of an event. But, these high tech devices can capture a perspective giving police another tool for protection, collecting evidence, or verifying false allegations."
"The point of view camera is now recording, so it follows my head whichever way I turn," said Lt. Jeffrey Newman. "If something happens and the camera becomes disconnected, the footage transfers from recording from the point of view camera directly back to the chest mounted camera."
Police said these body cameras are handy in the sense they can help de-escalate a situation when others know they're being recorded. It's why the department is asking for 100 additional H-D Wolfcom cameras, which can be mounted on the chest or other places on the body. Each device has the power to last for 12 hours -- the typical police shift. However, that's what some question: the balance of privacy.
"It may be a traffic crash, say there's an interview with the witness, that witness has the opportunity within 45-days that they think the police officer did something inappropriate where they can complain," said Chief Perkins. After that holding period video is deleted.
Police department leaders said videos will be deleted after 45 days. However, if the recording is used as evidence it can be stored indefinitely.
Cameras, repairs, docking stations and storage all add up to more than $220,000. To pay that bill, Roanoke City Police used $90,000 in narcotic forfeitures, $70,000 in grant funds, and money from the city and department's operating budgets.
Police further said every three years cameras will need to be replaced and repaired from daily wear and tear.