Building trust through transparency.
New Windsor Police Department employs Axis body worn cameras to document patrol officer interactions and detective interviews on the street.
Community businesses back body camera investment
When Police Chief Robert Doss first proposed that the New Windsor Police Department (NWPD) invest in body worn cameras, he felt the transparency afforded by the technology would provide a huge step forward in officer safety and police-community relations. But for a small town like New Windsor, New York, many of the solutions on the market were far too expensive to consider.
The Axis body worn cameras not only verify how our officers are performing in the field, they also help us quickly resolve any civilian complaints. That kind of transparency not only builds public trust and confidence in the work we do, but also improves officer safety.
“After great results we got during the testing phase, we knew we had found our solution,” states Chief Doss. “The cameras are well-built, and the video quality is outstanding. Plus, the Axis solution lets us store the video on our existing security-compliant servers instead of paying for expensive cloud storage.”
Hitting all the marks
The Axis solution that NWPD purchased included 50 body cameras with rugged Klick Fast magnetic mounting clips, seven eight-bay docking stations to automatically offload the video and recharge the body cameras, and two system controllers to transfer the video to AXIS Camera Station Pro, a video management software system. The system controller configures and manages the body cameras and user profiles as well as monitors system health.
“The Axis solution met all our criteria,” says Mangan. “The one-tap activation couldn’t be any easier. We also like the extra coverage we get from the programmable pre-buffer that records 30 to 90 seconds of video in case the officer momentarily forgets to turn on their camera on.”
Officers also appreciate that the whole process of recharging the cameras and offloading and storing the video is automatic. They just put the camera in the docking station at the end of their shift and the system does it all for them.
Not just for patrolling the streets
To protect video integrity, NWPD sets user permissions and views activity logs within AXIS Camera Station Pro, ensuring that only authorized personnel can view video evidence and make changes in the system. Patrol officers who share desktops in the bullpen, use unique credentials logging into the Axis video management software to view their own body camera video. Sergeants are authorized to view footage from all patrol officer cameras. Detectives also have access to any patrol officer video relevant to an investigation. Reviewing footage from multiple officers on the scene helps detectives compare different perspectives of an event.
Typically, NWPD detectives bring individuals into the police station to be interviewed and recorded, but occasionally there is a need to interview someone on the scene instead. In those instances - in addition to taking notes - they use their body camera to record the exchange.
Chief Doss shared some of that video as a springboard for discussion when he participated in the New York State mandated police reform collaborative panel. “Because we were using the body cameras prior to the panel’s implementation we were able to use it to verify to panel members how officers were actually performing in the field,” says the Chief.
Features that enhance safety and transparency
One safety feature that stands out for the department is the camera’s ability to turn on automatically if an officer falls or is pushed to the ground. Chief Doss is also exploring the possibility of adding a holster sensor which can automatically initiate a recording from the Axis body worn camera when an officer removes a holstered device.
“The Axis body cameras have proven a smart investment for our department and our community,” shares Chief Doss. “They give us the transparency we need to foster public trust and quickly resolve civilian complaints. Furthermore, when people know our officers are recording the interaction it often helps to de-escalate the situation. And that makes our streets a safer place for everyone.”
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