NYPD could carry guns fitted with cameras
By Tom Leonard in New York
Last updated: 2:55 PM BST 13/05/2008
New York police officers could carry mini-cameras on their guns under a proposal to bolster public confidence following a spate of controversial shootings.
The device, whose introduction is gaining support among state politicians, would create a visual and audio recording of police shootings for use in court.

Officers would not be able to tamper with the five-ounce camera which works by shooting out a bright red laser light at whatever is in the gun barrel’s path within two seconds of the weapon being drawn. The camera would continue to operate for up to an hour.

The laser light could only be switched off if might expose the officer to danger in a dark area. The camera footage could also be used to identify suspects.

Some American police departments have put cameras on Taser stunning devices in recent years but New York would be the first state to fit them on to real guns.

The idea has been proposed by Eric Adams, a Democratic senator for Brooklyn and former police officer.

He insisted the recordings made by the £350 cameras could bolster the credibility of the New York police in the wake of several controversial cases in which officers have been accused of shooting people without sufficient cause.

Last month, three New York officers were acquitted over the death of Sean Bell, an unarmed young black man, after a court heard they fired 50 shots into the car.

Critics argued that the trio used excessive force and the court judgement prompted street protests.

In 1999, Amadou Diallo, an African immigrant, was shot 41 times by police after they mistook his wallet for a gun.

New York state police have been briefed on the technology used in the gun cameras and are considering introducing a trial programme with the force’s heavily-armed SWAT teams.

“That’s definitely a new thing,â€