Thursday, March 2, 2017

New police body camera device can detect when a firearm is drawn from its holster and automatically activates all nearby cameras

  • Axon Signal Sidearm will start recording as soon as gun is removed from holster 
  • Device is aimed at reducing potential for user error, especially in tense situations
  • Body cameras capture police encounters, but some cops forget to turn them on
  • Once gun is drawn, the sensor alerts all Axon cameras within a 30-foot range
  • This is set to help police create a multi-angle video of a police encounter 
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    The Axon Signal Sidearm, has a small sensor on the side of it to start recording when a gun is removed from an officer's holster

    A new police body camera device that was released this week will start recording as soon as a firearm is removed from an officer's holster. 

    The Axon Signal Sidearm was developed by Taser International, the global leader in connected apps and devices for law enforcement.

    Devices like the Signal Sidearm could reduce the potential for user error, especially in tense situations. 

    'When law enforcement officers must draw a weapon, the last thing they should worry about is their technology,' Taser CEO and Co-Founder, Rick Smith, said in a statement. 

    The new device, which has a small sensor on the side, is aimed at decreasing the risk of officers failing or forget ting to activate their body cameras in the line of duty.  

    Body cameras are supposed to capture a record of police encounters, but they can only do that when officers remember to turn them on. 

    The new product is the first wireless sensor to alert Axon body cameras when a firearm is removed from an officer's holster. 

    Once a firearm is drawn, the sensor is triggered and alerts all Axon cameras within a 30-foot range, which is set to help police create a multi-angle video of a police encounter. 

    The signal communicates with the full line of Axon cameras including Axon Body 2, Axon Flex 2, and Axon Fleet in-car cameras.

    Taser CEO and Co-Founder, Rick Smith, said in a statement that the last thing officers 'should worry about is their technology'. The new product is the first wireless sensor to alert Axon body cameras when a firearm is removed from an officer's holster. Pictured is an Axon Body 2

    Most Axon cameras already feature a 30-second buffer, which saves footage before the camera is even switched on. Dashboard cameras are also designed to activate when the engine is started or a siren is turned on.

    'The Signal Sidearm will give officers the same confidence in their technology that already exists in encounters involving Smart Weapons that use our Signal technology. 

    'It's an important step in extending the reach of the Axon network to connect other devices,' Smith said in the statement. 

    Several police departments have already started using Axon Signal products. 

    Body camera recordings can be seen in up to half of the country's roughly 18,000 law enforcement agencies, according to CBS News.  

    The new Signal Sidearm goes on sale later this year, but the company has not said how much it would cost. 

    Most Axon cameras already feature a 30-second buffer, which saves footage before the camera is even switched on. Dashboard cameras (pictured) are also designed to activate when the engine is started or a siren is turned on


    Source: New police body camera device can detect when a firearm is drawn from its holster and automatically activates all nearby cameras

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