We already know what factually helps to reduce crime and better town: cops out of their cars and walking beats.
Can you imagine how fast red lights would be when the people texting realize there are cops on foot watching to ticket you?
Well, that would make all too much sense and not mandate any budget increases by purchasing all these neato toys so it probably won't fly.

Here's a recent article from the WSJ that touches on the many benefits of getting cops out of their cars and back into the neighborhoods: Web Link

Not sure how I feel about body cameras. Good for accountability both on the part of cops and people they deal with. Bad for privacy.

The Rialto study that showed how effective body cameras are was backed by Taser International: a maker of body cams. A study by the Justice Department found that there was not enough evidence to support body cameras.

There was some guy in WA state that filed requests for all video footage the cops ever had, including going into peoples private houses, etc.

Privacy issues can be legislated. Cameras are effective and build trust. Officers don't spend much time in people's houses, so I'm fine with having a new problem to address.

There should be NO ON/OFF switch accessible to the patrol offcer at any time. We have software to edit all the boring stuff. That will truly get any UNBIASED video when the officer doesn't have control of the ON/OFF switch. The UNION should not even have a say in this issue; WE ALL want safety and Serve and Protect as part of any job the MVPD has to do. THAT is when any PD STARTS to regain the trust that is EARNED and not GIVEN.

When CCTV cameras were first introduced as monitoring devices, it was easy to defeat their purpose; when the jailers wanted a little " fun "as part of their boring jobs, the CCTV cable got disconnected and they had their " fun " with some of the inmates. Then they would report a " failure of the CCTV camera ". A tech would come out, wink at the officers and " fix " the CCTV camera. Then the tech would log the 2 hours needed to " fix " the problem. No hurt no foul, the tech would get the 2 hours free. Except for the inmates, but they don't count.

No tech ( except for self contained robots ) can replace biking or walking a beat.
Another point:
All this " free " military surplus does the exact opposite when dealing with the average citizen. It ain't free. The DEA demands that the cops getting the hardware enforce the WAR ON DRUGS in the places that get their seized stuff too! The US Constitution FORBIDS the Federal Government from having ANY Armed Forces to be used INSIDE the UNITED STATES! My MVHS Civics teacher pounded knowledge of this stuff into our heads. He would also FAIL anyone that wasn't able to understand what he taught.

I say that " Officer Friendly got gunned down by the SWAT TEAM ".
RESPECT DOES NOT SUDDENLY HAPPEN WHEN YOU PUT ON THAT BLUE OR CAMO UNIFORM. IT HAS TO BE EARNED EACH AND EVERY OTHER DAY!

Oh, where did I get all this knowledge? I was working with BI.
They supply a LOT of police and parole officer equipment.
I've also worked as an IT contractor that built and installed inmate handling devices ( you cannot bribe a robot ). My wife ( now dead from cancer ) was the Chief of Courts in several counties. You get the inside story of how Law & Order are really kept by seeing everything and saying nothing. No, I didn't disconnect or " repair " CCTV systems. Now we have special fittings that require a special wrench to disconnect the coax.

Good WSJ link in the first post. I would love to see cops walking in MV.

I know it all, so listen up and obey me.