Gawker
It looks like New York might become the first state in the country to mandate that special video cameras, accompanied by a bright spotlight and laser, be attached to police handguns to provide a visual record of shootings. In the state legislature, former cops from both major political parties are supporting at least a pilot program for the technology. Certainly the devices, which can optionally record audio, could help answer critical questions in the wake of killings like the one involving Sean Bell. But of course there's a downside: Imagine what a media huckster like TMZ's Harvey Levin would do with the footage from one of these things.
Internet voyeurism felt relatively harmless when the objects of attention suffered little for being the object of any particular video or picture, and when they were more uniformly self-selected. Gun camera footage, when it becomes widespread and, inevitably, hugely popular, is going to raise far uglier questions.
Excerpt of WCBS' video report on the technology (with no disturbing footage of anyone getting shot):
[WCBS]
Comments
Meanwhile, Harvey Leven Rambin attaches a video camera to Jakob Lodwik's head to make a video of Julia Allison attacking both Manhattan and, somehow, Julia Baugher in a Grand Theft Autoerotic rampage.
Its too big. The first complaint is going to be that it compromises officer and public safety by making the gun imbalanced, and therefore more unwieldy and inaccurate.
I have no doubt that in a few years they'll be tiny enough to be built right into the weapon, and use some kind of IR system so that the flashlight isn't necessary.
It's a really good idea, but won't be widely accepted until that happens. The barrage of YouTube videos is going to be inevitable though.
So AK-47's will have reel to reel on top?
This is the logical extension of dildocam -- certain to enhance our understanding of the intricacies of the implantation of solid objects.
"Police! Freeze! Or I'll send this to The Insider!"
How soon can we issue these to the paparazzi?
@Mike_Jahn: "Go ahead. Make my day." *click*
"Could we re-film that? I don't like how I was shot. Maybe you could shoot me from a better angle. The lighting?"
This sounds like a great improvement over the swordradio, but I am still holding out for the wi-fi night stick. The whole thing is rather Daidist; I mean, do they really need to issue blue plastic guns as well?
"What, no rewind button?"
@Un Chien Andalou: Please only shoot the good side of my face. "Okay, Sean Bell Crime Scene 1: take 49. Roll it!"
Does this weapon have text-messaging capability? u frz rt now!!!1!
Can it be recharged in the squad car's cigarette lighter?
@KarenUhOh: Or to celebrities?
@Mike_Jahn: HAH!!!
@Mike_Jahn: cnt shoot n txt @ sm time brb!!!!!
It holds 4 gigs of mp3s. Just be careful when you squirt to a Zune.
It looks rather bulky. It seems like it could cause problems with cops aim and handling of their guns. There has to be smaller video devices out there. The cideo technology seems dated. I can go to Sony and buy a smaller, higher quality video device.
Awesome, Cop Rock's comin' back!
@fileunder:
I loved Cop Rock. When the entire jury rose and sang Randy Newman's "Guilty" I ruined a perfectly good pair of BVDs.
Coming soon: Funniest Police Shooting Videos!
Y'know, some high-end digital cameras such as pro shooters (hmmm ... didn't mean to refer to guns there, but it works) use can send images directly to the cell tower and thence to whereever. Maybe soon there will be a direct link from gun to Gawker.
Of course, bulletcam is further in the future.
@Mike_Jahn:
Mmm, well I didn't soil any underpants - I just thought it was a terrific concept that wasn't well-executed. It should have taken itself a wee bit seriously.
It'll be so much better if they perfect the use of these devices though!
Please get these in Portland (OR)... the cops here shoot at anything that moves.
Let the satire begin. "How can I tell if it's recor-"POW!
She was found to be previously shot in the vault of Cops Gone Wild Spring Break Edition 2006.
She said she was 18 and had her parent's permission on that tape to Joe Francis. Still waiting a response from American Apparel regarding the billboard.
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