Mobile video systems are not right for every agency. And choosing one is anything but a no-brainer. The purpose of this article is to provide an easy checklist, using simple words we cops can understand to help you to make the best possible decisions about in-car mobile video systems.
I’m no genius on in-car video systems, but I know a whole lot more about them today than I did a few short weeks ago. I received insight from street cops around the country. I talked with many of the vendors who produce the gear. And I will attempt to combine their collective knowledge and wisdom in a way that will help you:
- Figure out why you’re buying (i.e., what you want to accomplish);
- Identify and prioritize the stakeholders;
- Understand why you must write the General Order (policy) first;
- Handle the ancillary matters that can materially affect success of the project;
- Spell out the Cardinal Rule in plain English to everyone involved; and
- Understand the various options out there today and how your choices will directly impact the cops who will use it.
Why Are You Buying?
This purchase is no different than purchases you make personally. Answers such as, “Because everyone else has it” don’t cut it. You shouldn’t spend a good chunk of your capital improvement budget unless you expect some kind of measurable improvement or benefit for your agency.
Know what you’re after. Each brand of system will be strong in some areas, yet weak in others. One might shine in managing the video library and making look-ups easy, and another might prove best at producing broadcast-quality video. You must make sure the system you choose is outstanding at doing what’s most important in your agency, whether it’s preserving cop careers by eliminating false citizen complaints, reducing agency liability, getting more convictions at trial as the result of better evidence from the scene or implementing a continuous improvement program using real incidents for training purposes.
You should be able to identify a single, most-important reason that justifies this purchase because that will force you to consider multiple goals, choose one and aim at it. And make sure you can articulate it to unsophisticated civilians. Putting the primary goal in civilian language makes you take it out of cop speak and put your thoughts and words into a form your colleagues in purchasing, the city manager’s office, etc., will understand. Write it down on a sheet of paper and make it the first sheet in the project file. It will help you maintain your focus as the project unfolds.
Whose Hands Are In It?
Who has more than a passing interest in this project? Typically, there’s the chief. They’re supposed to care about everything.
The folks in investigations might look at a video system as a boon and a new source of rock-solid information to gain convictions. The prosecuting attorney may well come along for the ride on this one.
Your administration might look at it as a good tool to keep tabs on your street cops. The city attorney and/or liability insurance people might see it as a way to reduce the cases they must defend and dollars they must pay to citizens with complaints.
There’s also a chance the training folks will see this as a way to show real-life scenarios of the good, the bad, and the ugly for training purposes. That’s unlikely, but it sounds really good when said at a public meeting or read in the local newspaper.
Whoever’s involved, remember: You must prioritize the stakeholders. You must know in advance who’s calling the shots on how the new system will be used. Each ship must have a single captain, much like there’s only one chief or sheriff. Selection and implementation decisions made across the life of the project will directly affect the level of satisfaction for the end users. You must know who’s got the last word so you can make decisions consistent with that person’s vision.
Example: Your video system is funded by your liability insurance company as a way to reduce frivolous claims and awards stemming from alleged officer misconduct. The type of video system needed to serve that master would be quite different from one purchased at the request of the detective bureau and prosecutor who want video evidence of hand-to-hand drug sales.
The General Order
Before you purchase the gear or even view a single vendor demo, write the GO. The sheer process of writing a GO will force the crap to the top of the water, so to speak.
Any GO of value will address:
- Which vehicles will have a video system installed;
- When the video system must record video;
- When the video system must record audio;
- What must the officer do if/when the system isn’t working;
- The penalties (if any) for failure to activate the system in accordance with the GO;
- Who bears responsibility for transferring recordings from the mobile system to the master system/server;
- Whether the recordings can be used by Internal Affairs when conducting an investigation;
- Whether the recordings can be used for counseling or other disciplinary measures by first- and second-tier managers; and
- Whether the recordings can be used for fact-finding related to non-critical policy infractions.
A comprehensive GO must address many other issues as well, such as retention methods, access, retention periods, etc. However, the issues above most directly relate to system success and acceptance at all levels of your organization.
Critically important: Writing the GO will force management to carefully consider the desired outcomes and to what extent they will go in their pursuit of those outcomes. By its very nature, this will automatically disqualify certain vendors and certain technologies, and exclude the voices of extraneous folks from interfering with the decision-making process.
Ancillary Issues
A host of administrative issues relate to an in-car mobile video system:
- Will you store the video on tapes, DVDs, removable hard drives or on department servers?
- Will the system require construction of a secure room for storage that requires any special climate controls?
- What budgetary demands will occur from buying the media of choice (e.g., tapes, DVDs, etc.)?
- How long must you keep the recordings?
- How will you flag a particular incident as potentially needed in an investigation or prosecution?
- How easy is it to search for and locate specific events?
- How will the media be doled out to the troops at the beginning of each shift? Who will check them in on return?
- What’s the process and who has the responsibility for responding to subpoenas for copies?
These activities will occur every day, so the slightest nuance of change can wreak long-term havoc on the unsuspecting.
Important: The administration must clearly articulate to the troops why the system is being purchased, what benefits are expected and how they each play a role in achieving success. Failure to lay out the vision for the troops will lead to endless speculation about how the administration plans to screw the grunts with the new gadgetry. As the saying goes, imagination is often far worse than reality. Tell them the truth and lay it out at the front end. Get the arguments over so that you can put your full focus on moving forward. No agency is served well by labor strife resulting from speculation or rumor.
Also, top management should commit to not tolerating the system’s use to crucify a grunt cop who has previously pissed off some sergeant along the way. Cops from across the country have given personal accounts of how these systems enabled someone in middle management to expand their power. It drives some cops out the door and keeps others from entering. Don’t let this happen to you.
The Cardinal Rule
The Holy Grail that must be followed without exception: The in-car mobile video system must not be allowed to compromise officer safety in any form, method or manner. Not even a little bit. Period.
The Options Today
Let’s get down to the nuts and bolts. No system is perfect. And yes, by the time you actually get a system installed, a new one will have been invented that will be better. Accept it it’s a fact of modern life.
I’ll go through a list of features and options and briefly discuss those that are important on the street cop.
Starting the Recording Process
Older systems started recording at the beginning of the shift and recorded everything, non-stop, until the end. Newer systems record in chunks, i.e., one incident at a time. Various methods start the recording process in these systems:
- Manually by touching a switch or button on the camera or recording unit;
- Automatically, usually triggered by any one of the following events: activation of overhead lights or siren, hitting a certain speed threshold or remotely signaled from dispatch or a supervisor’s vehicle; and
- Remotely when officers touch a button on the microphone worn on their belt.
Current systems also feature “Pre-event Recording,” which means the system will automatically record the 60 90 seconds preceding the activation. This is important because it relieves cops from having to attend to the recording process and guessing in advance if recording is necessary.
By having the recording start/stop with each incident, you can catalog and archive each one digitally. This allows future recall with pinpoint accuracy and eliminates the need for tedious scanning.
The Camera
Many providers utilize commercially available cameras. Two attributes affect the cop. First is the picture quality. Try it in all kinds of lighting conditions. Make sure the pictures are good enough for large-screen display at court.
Second is the width of the camera angle. Too narrow will cause the cop to either drag combative subjects into range, or result in the incident not being captured.
You must also consider what the camera will do to the field of vision through the windshield. Dashboards have radar antennas and control units. There’s the lid/screen for the laptop computer. Now we’ll add a video camera. Be careful.
Some cameras are built into a device that replaces the existing rearview mirror. Others are built into a center ceiling-mounted console that may also contain the DVD recorder. Still others mount to the lightbar.
My point: There are lots of camera options. Try ’em out. Check with other agencies that have them. Send a few of your cops on ridealongs with other agencies to learn what they like and don’t like about their systems.
The Microphone
There are two important issues to street cops about the microphone. First, if they carry it in a comfortable and convenient manner, will it pick up the voices and sounds they want? Second, how far can it transmit back to the base unit in the car?
Another concern: Will the agency record audio within the car on a constant basis?
The Dearborn (Mich.) Police Department attempted to install a continuous recording system, and the union cited a legal precedent that brought the practice to an end. At the Fort Pierce (Fla.) Police Department, cops have had their balls busted over the recording of one side of a personal telephone conversation they had with their wives. This issue is all over the map and should be clearly delineated in the GO before the first camera is installed.
Stopping the Recording
If you choose a system that starts automatically on each appropriate incident, how does the recording stop? In every system I’ve seen, the officer manually stops it. What kind of lights, sounds, beepers, etc. will remind the cop that it’s running after the incident concludes? Some of the better units use a piercing red light in the control unit that will get the cop’s attention even in broad daylight when they sit in the driver’s seat.
Media
Historically, in-car video systems have recorded audio and video on a variety of media:
- VHS tape. The tapes record very slowly to capture all eight hours of the shift. It’s customary for tapes to run continuously. Finding an incident on the video tape is akin to finding a phone call on a dispatch tape-logger system. The tapes usually require a great deal of space for storage. Due to space and cost limitations, tapes are typically recycled monthly.
- DVD recorders. They are better at starts and stops than tapes, but DVD recorders are vulnerable to dust, dirt and bumps. There’s lots of all three in a cop car. Like tapes, these must be checked out, checked in, stored and ultimately recycled.
- Removable hard drives. These drives can hold tons of information and typically only need to be returned to the station periodically. They’re less vulnerable to dirt, dust and bumps than DVD. However, at some point the removable hard drive fills up. If it happens mid-shift, it’s done. Worse, it may be that the only time the video is moved to the station/permanent storage is on those periodic changes of the hard drive. In between changes, the administration has no access to the recordings.
- Thumb drives. Some wise guy figured out how he could copy data from his shift to a thumb drive and take that into the station. While that works, it’s fraught with all kinds of issues ranging from dependability to security.
All of these media choices require the employment of “Sneakerware.” That is, the cop must schlep something to and from the car. Not good.
Today, we’re moving data through the air. There are two options. The first establishes a Hot Spot (like you find at Starbuck’s). The Hot Spot might be in the station parking lot, the sally port or even in multiple locations around the community. Whenever the car gets within range of a Hot Spot, the video system automatically syncs-up with the station servers. The mobile system keeps track of what has been successfully sent. Subsequent transmissions exclude those that have already been transmitted.
The downside of the Hot Spot approach is that if multiple cars attempt to upload at the same time, they may all move at a snail’s pace.
One vendor I interviewed suggested combining the Hot Spot approach with a wired approach in which the department installs network plugs at the gas pump. When filling the car with fuel, the cop plugs the car’s mobile computer into the outlet and transfers the video then. If cops gas up near the end of their shift, there’s little or nothing to send wirelessly, and the speed is lightning fast.
Many video systems provide the ability to stream video/audio to the Internet so other officers and yes, command, can tune in to see what’s going on. I’m told one team routinely watches video from another unit that’s on a traffic stop. They know if there’s trouble and slide in that officer’s direction before he even calls for backup.
With wireless systems, some folks have expressed security concerns, but none appear to be based on facts. There are encryption standards in place that came about back when we started pushing NCIC information to the car. Those standards are controlled by feds to ensure security of wireless transmissions for law enforcement.
Finally, the system you choose should support your needs for file management once it’s in the station. Most companies now offer a back-end solution that helps you organize, categorize and manage files. All authorized users can view anything from their desk. These and other features directly affect the operating costs of the system.
Combination Systems
As mobile video systems went digital, the control unit essentially became a computer. Panasonic, Federal Signal and a few others cleverly figured out that by adding a hard drive, a single computer in the car could function as a mobile data computer (MDC) and control the mobile video system as well. In fact, rather than a separate monitor for the camera, the mobile computer screen could also display images from the camera.
There’s more. Federal Signal is in the process of introducing a product that allows the mobile computer to be the central touch point for many functions. It works as a complete MDC for inquiries, etc., it handles the controls for the in-car video and it also provides touch-screen buttons to activate all emergency equipment such as lights and sirens. Both Panasonic and Motorola have made significant strides in this area as well.
On the upside, this approach reduces the amount of gear in the car, bringing some relief to the cop who must work in this jam-packed sardine can. On the downside, if the car computer fails, you’re out of business. If failure occurs during a vehicle pursuit, traffic stop or other situation with citizen involvement, it could spell trouble. I personally take some comfort in the thought of not putting all of my eggs in one basket. But that’s a personal preference and one that deserves dialogue and input from those who will be most affected street cops.
Final Thoughts
Again, draft an outline of what’s needed in the GO, and let your cops collaborate on drafting it. Get their feedback on what they like, what they hate and what they fear. To get good input, help them feel comfortable that there will be no retribution or retaliation against anyone for being objectively honest.
Calculate the dollar and practical maintenance costs. For example, Federal Signal’s video system is totally software (other than the camera itself). Its techs can remotely connect to any mobile computer in any car, determine the problem and likely fix it remotely. New software updates are automatically deployed and installed. With no need to have a techie visit each car, an agency can save thousands of dollars in personnel time over the life of the system.
Talk to other users once you get down to the brass tacks with a potential supplier. What’s the service response time like? On a percentage basis, how many systems require service on any given day?
Most important: Why are you considering this purchase? You should know and be able to articulate your reasons very clearly. As stated earlier, this step will keep you focused and on point over the life of the project.
Researching this article was an enlightening experience. If I can be of any help, e-mail me.
Stay safe.
Jim Donahue is a certified peace officer in Florida and ILEETA member. Previously he worked with U.S. Customs & Immigration at the Detroit-Canada border, and he’s worked as a reserve patrolman on the streets of a suburban Detroit community. He now trains patrol officers on technology and tactics; specifically, how to use patrol car computers safely. Contact him at [email protected].
In-Car Video Manufacturers
- AMR Digital www.amrdigital.com
- Decatur Electronics www.decaturradar.com
- Digital Ally www.digitalallyinc.com
- Federal Signal www.federalsignal.com
- ICOP Digital www.icopdigital.com
- Integrian www.integrian.com
- Kustom Signal www.kustomsignals.com
- L-3 Mobile Vision www.mobile-vision.com
- MPH Industries www.mphindustries.com
- Martel Electronics www.martelelectronics.com
- Panasonic www.panasonic.com
- Safety Vision www.safetyvision.com
- WatchGuard Video www.watchguardvideo.com
IACP Resource
The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) has put together a good mobile-video resource document. The result of many months of hard work from a dedicated group of folks from the video industry, law enforcement and the scientific community, this document is excellent as a primer for the novice, and it’s also sufficiently detailed to satisfy the more experienced among us. It does a great job laying out the technical specs of mobile video systems. I encourage you to spend time reviewing it. Find it here: http://theiacp.org/research/RCDTechCuttingEdge.html.
Epilogue
I asked many vendors to participate in the preparation of this article. Some responded. Many did not. That’s unfortunate, because my invitation advised that my article would discuss how their system helps improve officer safety.
I want to highlight the companies that did respond, that have what I believe to be a viable product, and whose background appears to support our concerns about officer safety. As you consider a purchase, I encourage you to include these organizations in your review:
- Decatur Electronics;
- Digital Ally;
- Federal Signal;
- ICOP;
- L-3 Mobile Vision; and
- Panasonic.
In-Car Video
The “In-Car Video” feature in October had an epilogue that encouraged readers to support vendors that had responded to the writer’s request for information. On a previous page, we listed major in-car video manufacturers so readers could obtain more specific information. Unfortunately, when combined with the epilogue, this list gave the impression that most of the manufacturers didn’t respond to a request connected with officer safety. That’s not the case, and we’ve found manufacturers to be very concerned about helping improve officer safety. We regret any confusion this may have caused.
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