Hasta La Ideas

The Taser AXON is a “tactical networkable computer” that consists of a camera/microphone unit, a control unit and a small belt-mounted computer. Cops in California’s San Jose, beleaguered by charges of police brutality, has begun outfitting officers with the over-the-ear cameras in a trial launched last week, the first of its kind in the U.S.

In the pilot project, officers have been directed to switch on the camera as they are about to contact a civilian. The cameras, equipped with an audio recorder, align with the officer’s vision, and can be later switched to standby mode.

Afterward, the officer can switch the camera to a “buffer” mode, where it still records limited segments of video, and a nonrecord mode. The officer may review the tape at any time, but it may not be erased. At the end of the shift, the device’s memory is downloaded onto a central server.

…Although officers are already bearing vests, weapons and radios, most of them welcome adding a camera to record their actions, [Police Chief Rob] Davis said. In addition, he said, “We’re making it so it has cachet.”

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