el Don /SANTA ANA COLLEGE • MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2014/eldonnews.org
NEWS
POLICE EQUIPPED WITH CAMERAS
Two Orange County police departments begin recording police encounters
COPWATCH
Anaheim and
Fullerton bought
about 400
body-mounted
recorders in
November 2014.
TRUST / Anaheim
spent $1.15 million
to buy 250 video
recorders. Fullerton
approved $650,000
for 140 units.
COUNTYWIDE / The
Sheriff’s Department
has been field testing the recorders for
about a year and a
half. Orange Police
won’t purchase them,
and Santa Ana has
yet to consider it.
New technology could determine how justice is served in
Orange County.
Police departments across
the county are considering
using body-mounted cameras
for officers to wear on duty.
Recorded encounters give
investigators more evidence
to show in court, while protecting citizens who interact
with police, Santiago Canyon
College Criminal Justice professor William Blaska said.
Anaheim and Fullerton
police departments are taking
steps to use the cameras.
The Anaheim City Council
approved the devices last
month and allocated $1.15
million to buy 250 cameras.
Officers will begin wearing
the cameras in November,
and the entire force will be
equipped by April, according
to The Orange County Register.
Fullerton approved the
purchase of 140 cameras for
$650,000, taking the same
route as Anaheim.
The Orange County Sheriff’s
Department has been field
testing for a year and a half,
with a new camera to be tested
next month.
Orange Police Department
reportedly is not interested in
the cameras. Santa Ana has
yet to consider body cameras
on officers.
Police brutality has received
national attention when several cases triggered discussion
about excessive use of force.
In New York City, Eric
Garner was choked by New
York Police Officer Daniel
Pantaleo and died minutes
later on July 17 after
crying out “I can’t breathe! I
can’t breathe!”
On Aug. 9, 2014 in Ferguson,
Miss. 18-year-old unarmed
Michael Brown was shot
multiple times and killed
by Ferguson Police Officer
Darren Wilson.
Matt To, a 43-year-old Santa
Ana College student who has
been in and out of jail since he
was 18, says he has been the
victim of officers abusing
their power.
“Sometimes when you don’t
listen or obey a direct order
from the police they go above
and beyond the badge. They
tend to push, shove you, hit
you, and that’s how they take
advantage of you,” To said,
adding that body cameras help
deter this kind of excessive
police behavior.
In the past two years, the
death of two Hispanic males
sparked riots in the streets
of Anaheim.
Both deaths were spurred by
confrontations with officers.
In 2011 another Orange
County incident gained notoriety when members of the
Fullerton Police Department
were caught on video using
excessive force on Kelly
Thomas, a homeless man. He
later died of his injuries.
Three FPD officers went on
trial for the incident, and all
three were acquitted, despite
video evidence.
The cameras can help back
up what happened when accusations are made and potentially reduce conflict, said former Westminster police officer
and current SAC safety officer
Joe Lordanich.
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el Don /SANTA ANA COLLEGE • MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2014/eldonnews.org
BY SOULIMAN MAIDA / el Don
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