The fact is, more law enforcement officers than not want to have a body-worn camera — and they want it as soon as possible. Overall, first responders want good low-light capability, long battery life and long recording time. And while there are legal and patient privacy issues to consider, here are the top 10 things paramedic chiefs and EMS leaders need to consider when evaluating and making body-worn camera purchasing decisions.
1. POV
The point of view (POV) from which the camera captures images may be the most critical single element of a new body-worn solution for EMS providers.
Be cognizant of how the placement of the camera either enhances—or doesn’t enhance—the field of view captured on record. Be wary of the fact that when a camera is affixed to the middle of the chest and if an EMS provider needs to get into any sort of fighting stance, that camera may end up being pointed directly at a subject’s sneakers. The optimal placement, then, may be someplace that mimics the officer’s actual line of sight.
Some areas for consideration are the brim of the ball cap, the ear-paddle of the sunglasses or even the epaulet of the uniform, which will generally follow the EMS providers’ line of sight.
2.Comfort/Size
When it comes to the comfort and size of the device, it’s a case of the lighter the better. However, seek a balance between the total weight and size of the package. By package, we mean the the totality of what the EMS provider must carry on their person in order for the device to function.
Be wary though, that if you concentrate too much on a light weight device, you may end up with something that breaks easily.
3. Durability/Reliability
As above, strike a balance here as well. Rugged sometimes means added weight, and too much added weight for any piece of duty can reach the tipping point of it not being used. There are many examples of tremendously sturdy pieces of gear that have been left behind because they were just too cumbersome to be truly functional. Balance is key.
Keep in mind the total picture in terms of ease of use.
4. Ease of Use
Naturally, you will want easy-on, easy-off operations for the camera itself—that’s a no brainer. But you must also consider the ease of use in terms of the total picture, including after the EMS provider has come back.
You want your providers spending less time back at the station and more time out on the street, so the more time-consuming and difficult the process is to download the videos, label them, manage them and store them in a central location, the less time they will have for everything else.
5. Back-end Data Management
This goes hand-in-hand with the previous tip. How easy and manageable it is to download, store, share and retrieve the mountains of data collected from the camera is of critical importance. This is not just for providers, but for everyone in the criminal justice system.
It is absolutely imperative that prosecutors and defense attorneys have the ability to be granted permission to certain pieces of evidence at certain times, and this cannot turn into a full-time job for one of your first responders — running video tapes all over town, etc. — so having an evidence management system that is easy to use, reliable secure is worth thinking about.
6. Multiple Mounting Options
EMS providers need to pick the mounting option that works best for them, whether it’s the hat, collar, glasses, shoulder or body. The flexibility to choose is always a benefit.
7. Price
Given the shrinking budgets in public safety these days, price has become practically paramount in any new technology purchase. But the purchase price isn’t always the full price you’ll need to pay. The price of a product includes needing to pay for possible future upgrades, replacement of parts that are not covered by warranty and other such things that often don’t come immediately to mind.
Also, watch out for hidden costs associated with things like data storage and management when that’s not part of the purchase. If you’re evaluating a product that does not have these solutions built-in, you will have to also set aside budget for the needed servers and probably a full-time employee to manage that data. Weigh all of the factors of data capture and storage in deciding the most suitable technology solution.
8. Customer Support
Technology can be intimidating. It can be confusing, and it can break. Body-worn cameras are based on research and development during the past several decades, but at some point, operators will have questions.
Since because body-worn cameras are important for personnel safety and evidence, you’ll want timely answers for your questions. Ask what the process is for the vendor’s customer support.
9. Pre-Event Capture
In the National Football League, the second player to shove another is the one who draws the penalty flag — the first to throw a blow is never seen by the referees. This also happens with first responder encounters.
In order to ensure you get the whole story on record, you need to have the ability to capture the part of the event you were not expecting — that thing which caused the escalation.
10. Weather Resistance
EMS work is an all-seasons endeavor, so body-worn video solutions needs to have proven ability to operate in your environment. Whether your jurisdiction is the middle of Alaska or the middle of Alabama, consider the weather challenges your EMS personnel face in any given year. Ask your vendors how the equipment handles your local weather.
