the Michael Brown thread

grokit

well-worn member
Ferguson has dashboard cameras, and "the cost to install them is to much" ($3k per car)

This would seem to be less intrusive than lapel cams, from the cop's perspective.
 
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Caligula

Maximus
I dunno, $3k sounds like a decent chunk if you're talking about dozens of cars. Then you also have to pay the 3rd party companies that record the data streams (cloud storage) which is an ongoing fee, and so on.
 
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Madcap79

Jack of all trades, master of none.
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tuk

Well-Known Member
Cop cars already record wind-shield footage, modifying or extending this pre-existing tek to include cop footage would be inexpensive, certainly not more than a few hundred dollars per cop.
 
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Caligula

Maximus
Cop cars already record wind-shield footage, modifying or extending this pre-existing tek to include cop footage would be inexpensive, certainly not more than a few hundred dollars per cop.

Interesting assumption. Sadly, not every police cruiser has said cameras installed, which is the source of this discussion.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/14/us/ferguson-dashcams/

BTW, where are you getting this info that "modifying" this system will only be "a few hundred dollars"? I work IT and find it hard to say that with any certainty how much retrofitting these vehicles would cost. I'd need a lot more info to determine that.
 
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tuk

Well-Known Member
Interesting assumption. Sadly, not every police cruiser has said cameras installed, which is the source of this discussion.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/14/us/ferguson-dashcams/

BTW, where are you getting this info that "modifying" this system will only be "a few hundred dollars"? I work IT and find it hard to say that with any certainty how much retrofitting these vehicles would cost. I'd need a lot more info to determine that.

I work in IT as well & could easily rig something for a few hundred dollars even if the car could not record.

& thats off the shelf at retail prices not the bulk price the cops would get.

The whole cops cant afford to film themselves killing people thing is a complete fantasy and red herring, one striking thing about US cops when you see them is the amount of OTT kit they have attached to their bodies & all those shiney new SUVs.

The reason why the cops don't have cameras is the same reason why the cops don't volunteer the numbers on how many people they shoot...while they record every other detail eg what brand of boxer shorts a cop was wearing when he got assaulted etc...
 

Caligula

Maximus
If the cops wore a go pro camera on their body, they are $199.

A base model, $200 gopro isn't a valid option here IMO. You barely get over 2 hours of battery time with the latest Hero3 (less if you're using wifi, which would be a must) and only have a 64gb on board memory capacity (if you pay extra for it). There's a reason why the units police departments are looking into cost so much.

I work in IT as well & could easily rig something for a few hundred dollars even if the car could not record.

& thats off the shelf at retail prices not the bulk price the cops would get.

I'm glad you can say that with 100% certainty without further details, or taking a myriad of other factors into consideration. Typically I need to see quite a few criteria and need to discuss a lot of details with a client before coming up with a cost estimate like that.

In the meantime I'm going to go with this:

"Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson, says his department has 18 patrol cars... but the equipment hasn't been installed because the department doesn't have the money to cover that cost, he said.

A dashcam and installation runs about $3,000.
"

18 x $3k = $54,000. Not exactly a paltry sum for a small PD.

Also keep in mind this doesn't include the ~$600 for each "on person" camera or the monthly fees for data streaming/storage.
 
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2clicker

Observer
it seems to me that if something could protect the citizens AND police for dif reasons that the gov would mandate it.

just not sure public safety is a priority for our gov.
 
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grokit

well-worn member
I'm sure the city of ferguson could get a grant to cover the cost of installation of the car cams or to get body cams. Cameras protect the police from their own worst instincts to the betterment of the community.

The majority of these pentagon equipment transfers by $ are iud-proof vehicles right? That seems to be the most effective (non-suicide bomber) weapon for the bad guys with limited resources in overseas theater. Perhaps some conservative think-tank has decided it's inevitable that these type of attacks will be coming to the streets of the usa. The reaction is swat teams serving up mj/raw-milk warrants in full commando gear.
 
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Caligula

Maximus
it seems to me that if something could protect the citizens AND police for dif reasons that the gov would mandate it.

just not sure public safety is a priority for our gov.

You're assuming policy is based on common sense because why? Lol.

@grokit they city has already stated they are looking into appropriating funds to do this. The issue is that (like all humans) they are reactionary in nature.
 

Madcap79

Jack of all trades, master of none.
How do so many Russians have dash cams? Also, couldn't you use a gopro in the cars and have them plugged in the whole time?

Also, isn't there a way that the Ferguson PD would not have to pay a lump some to install the cameras?
 
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RUDE BOY

Space is the Place
Most of the DOD hand downs are actually things like office furniture and vhf communication systems and such, not armored cars or weapons. The military kept the vehicles armored up for IEDs they actually never had that many. Nearly All this paramilitary equipment was bought by the PDs or donated to police by private concerns.

The military mainly gave away some nearly dead soft bottom humvees and outdated uniforms, furniture, trucks, hauling trailers and communication equipment
 

RUDE BOY

Space is the Place
The surplus supplies are DOD cast offs, DHS programs passed them along. Who knows they may give funding used to buy military style gear along with training but DHS doesn't just have a bunch of excess military equipment hanging around, they may have some old Chrysler 300s.
 
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Caligula

Maximus
True story. Check out my InstaGram post from a few months ago:

http://websta.me/p/702259486500408402_503080082

Sadly I don't have the high rez picture anymore, and IG downsizes the resolution all sorts but the black lettering behind the left rear fender says "Provided by the Department of Homeland Security".

I don't know, perhaps that was just bought with DHS funding. Didn't seem to be worded that way though.
 

RUDE BOY

Space is the Place
Yeah I would say that was built as a swat vehicle and new, and not war surplus. :shrug:
 
RUDE BOY,

Caligula

Maximus
Yeah I would say that was built as a swat vehicle and new, and not war surplus. :shrug:

My understanding was that they were retrofitted but again could just be after the fact, with funding so it wouldn't really matter I guess.
 
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grokit

well-worn member
Ret. Marine Col: DHS Is Prepping For War With Americans
"A former Marine Corps Colonel who was stationed in Fallujah and trained Iraqi soldiers warns that the Department of Homeland Security is working with law enforcement to build a “domestic army,” because the federal government is afraid of its own citizens.
In this exclusive in studio interview Ret. Col Martino covers the DHS buildup and solutions our overreaching corrupt government officials."


It's alex jones, but he seems to at least be more as accurate than a broken clock ;)
 
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