Studer Community Institute

PPD officers now have body cameras

February 5, 2015
/ Shannon Nickinson
/ government

The future of law enforcement has arrived in Pensacola. Today 10 uniform patrol officers on the day shift will be deployed with body cameras. Capt. Tommi Lyter said there are 55 cameras total in this first wave of cameras. "It will become a part of every officer's equipment," Lyter said. "Technology now is catching up with real-life police work and it's feasible to incorporate them into police work." The police department bought 55 cameras and supporting software last fall with $95,000 from the Law Enforcement Trust Fund, which includes money from seizures and forfeitures. Lyter said the cameras, made by Vievu with software provided by Motorola, hold about eight hours of video before they have to be uploaded. That can be done from the officers in-car camera. The cameras will be rolled out 10 at a time through the entire uniform patrol division first. A second batch of cameras would be given to officers who cover Cordova Mall, motorcycle officers, the COPS unit and throughout the force for a total of 90-95 cameras, Lyter said. It is likely to be through summer before all of the cameras are deployed Lyter said. “This gives us an opportunity to collect better, more complete evidence and believe it will also help in reducing complaints against officers,” said Sgt. Bruce Martin, video system administrator for the department. The cameras measure about 1½ by 2½ inches, will be worn in the center of an officer’s chest, and are capable of continuously recording for approximately eight hours. Throughout their shifts, officers can download video from their vehicles to a server, and once the video is downloaded, the recording space becomes available again.

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PPD officers now have body cameras

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