• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / Crime / Courts / U-I police officers use lapel video cameras

U-I police officers use lapel video cameras

September 19, 2012 By Radio Iowa Contributor

University of Iowa police officers are using a new tool to help back up criminal accusations. All 43 officers with the U-I police force have been wearing small video cameras for eight months now. An additional 18 security personnel were just recently equipped with the cameras. Officer Alton Poole launched the initiative six years ago.

“The video gives an unbiased view from an officer’s perspective,” Poole said. The cameras, about the size of a pager, clip to a police officer’s uniform lapel. They cost nearly $900 each, but Poole believes they’ve been well worth the money spent in the form of courtroom evidence and clearing up officer targeted complaints.

“When a complaint comes in, we’ll let them know we’ll review the video. Sometimes, we don’t hear back from them,” Poole said. David Visin, associate director of the U-I Police Department, notes the cameras have been especially beneficial during football games, concerts and other special events where officers issue citations for open container or public intoxication.

Visin says the officers now have video evidence to refute false accusations. “When we replay the video, it clearly shows (the person) was intoxicated, the officer did the right thing and there was no instance that the officer was rude in any way,” Visin said. Many law enforcement agencies in Iowa have video equipment installed in their squad cars.

According to Visin, the need for body-worn video cameras by U-I police officers is greater than the typical agency because of the number of events they handle that require officers to patrol on foot rather than with a car.

By Vanessa Miller, KCRG-TV, Cedar Rapids

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Crime / Courts, News Tagged With: University of Iowa

Featured Stories

Iowa Supreme Court overturns ruling creating constitutional abortion right

Iowa’s governor launches $100 million school safety plan

Urbandale teacher crowned Miss Iowa

DOT taking input on proposed electric vehicle charging network

Glidden man cleared in poaching case, questions DNR tactics

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

Radio Iowa/Baseball Coaches Association High School Poll 6/27/22

AJ Green signs with Milwaukee

Iowa to host Georgia Tech in ACC/Big Ten Challenge

Iowa State adds a defensive back

Radio Iowa/Baseball Coaches Association High School Poll 6/20/22

More Sports

eNews and Updates

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Archives

Copyright © 2022 ยท Learfield News & Ag, LLC