Hub-City officers now equipped with body cameras
- Dec 20, 2016
- 2 min read
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The officers of the Hattiesburg Police Department are now equipped with $900 body cameras.
Spokesman Lieutenant (Lt.) Jon Traxler said the department has 76 cameras and it serves as a third eye for police and residents.
“If there is a situation where something has to go in front of a judge then, it has all of the evidence it needs" said Lt. Traxler.
He added, "But at the same time, to ensure that the officers are doing there job, to the best of their ability and not infringing on any kind of rights or anything like that.”
The cameras typically stores its footage for 90 days and turns on automatically when blue lights flash. “It’s continually recording, to an effect that has to have an event created, and the minute blue lights come on, it comes on just like the dash cam does" Lt. Traxler said.
Part of having the body cameras is to properly document situations and to be used as a tool for evidence.
“That is something we try to build our fleet to, again its giving better documentation to events that are happening, as well as responding to calls its capturing possible suspects that are leaving as well.”
All of the HPD officers are trained on how to handle the body cameras, and citizens can see their footage if requested.
Lt. Traxler said, “If they do want to see it, they can watch it, but they will not be able to get a copy of it."
He added, "However, if they have a court case and their attorney wants to subpoena it they can get a copy of it then, that’s the procedure for those types of things.”
To learn more about the makers of the camera you can click here.
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