OWENSBORO, KY (WFIE) -
Owensboro Police will now be able to record evidence more accurately, and can do the job hands free, thanks to new technology.
Deputy Tom Whitford with the Daviess County Sheriff's Office says doing his job without any back up or protection can get difficult.
Deputy Whitford says, "I turned and looked and there's this poor guy hit by a truck..
He experiences it almost daily.
"Nobody knew what happened so as I get to the victim, the gentleman comes up and says "hey man, I'm sorry I didn't mean to back over you."
Deputy Whitford uses a body cam, it's only a few inches long and attaches to his uniform. Without it, he would not be able to prove cases like the one he just described.
Anything he sees and hears, gets recorded, downloaded, and then replayed instantly, either for evidence, or to confirm police reports.
Now, 70 Owensboro Police patrol officers will get the cameras that are paid for by a grant from the Department of Justice.
OPD PIO Marian Cosgrove says, "If they have to use deadly force or be in a situation where the officer might get hurt, an officer may record certain things he does during the day."
Officer Cosgrove says using the camera is not mandatory, but it's more of a safety net and improves accuracy.
Right now only a few deputies at the sheriff's office use the cameras, and have to pay for them out of pocket.
The cameras cost about $100 and can record up to two hours.
Copyright 2011 WFIE. All rights reserved.
