SEATTLE, March 26, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The San Diego
Police Department recently released a report showing the use of
AXON body-worn video cameras by TASER International (NASDAQ:
TASR) has led to fewer complaints by residents and less use of
force by officers. The report that was developed by the
Police Department for the City Council's Public Safety and Livable
Neighborhoods Committee showed that complaints fell 41%, total
allegations were reduced by 60% and use of "personal body" force by
officers dropped by 47%. The use of pepper spray was also
reduced by 31%. The results from this study reflect
comparisons to prior periods in which body-worn cameras were not
deployed.
The San Diego Police Department
currently deploys 600 AXON body and flex cameras to their police
officers and uses TASER's cloud-based
platform, EVIDENCE.com to efficiently store and manage
the data from their cameras and other digital devices. The
department plans to have nearly 1,000 officers, including patrol
officers, gang-unit officers and motorcycle officers equipped
with body cameras by the end of 2015.
"The body cameras have proven to be a positive game-changer for
our department and the San Diego
community," says San Diego Police
Chief Shelley Zimmerman. "We find the cameras to be a win-win
for our officers and citizens and we look forward to continued
success with our body-worn video program here in San Diego."
"This is meaningful data from a large scale deployment of
body-worn cameras at a major city and we are very encouraged by the
positive results and significant impact the body cameras have shown
to have on a police force and community," said Rick smith, CEO
and Founder of TASER. "We hope the results from this study
will help guide other cities, counties and law enforcement agencies
who are considering updating their technology to help improve
transparency and community relations."
Similar body-worn camera studies have been conducted at other
police departments in recent years including one by Cambridge
University at the Rialto, CA
Police Department that showed an 88% reduction in citizen
complaints and a 60% reduction in uses of force. Another
study by Arizona State University at the Mesa Police
Department revealed a 48% reduction in citizen complaints and a 75%
decline in use of force complaints.
TASER's AXON cameras are small, yet highly visible, and can be
attached securely to sunglasses, a cap, a shirt collar, or a head
mount. They are powered by a pocket-sized battery pack, which
ensures recording capability during an entire shift. When
recording, the cameras capture a wide-angle, full-color view of
what an officer is facing. The video automatically uploads
via a docking station to EVIDENCE.com, a cloud-based storage and
management system, where it can be easily accessed for review.
The video files stored online or on the AXON video camera are
secure and cannot be tampered with.
EVIDENCE.com helps law enforcement capture, manage, and share
their digital evidence without the complexity or cost of installing
in-house servers. It enables greater transparency through seamless
integration with the industry-leading AXON body-worn video cameras.
EVIDENCE.com is the most secure, scalable, and cost-effective
solution for managing all types of digital evidence. EVIDENCE.com
automates the upload process to ensure security and integrity while
keeping officers in the field rather than sitting at computers.
Follow EVIDENCE.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EVIDENCEcom
- Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/EVIDENCEcom
About TASER International, Inc.
TASER International makes communities safer with innovative
public safety technologies. Founded in 1993, TASER first
transformed law enforcement with its electrical weapons. TASER
continues to define smarter policing with its growing suite of
technology solutions, including AXON body-worn video cameras and
EVIDENCE.com, a secure digital evidence management platform. More
than 139,000 lives and countless dollars have been saved with
TASER's products and services.
Learn more at www.TASER.com and www.EVIDENCE.com or by calling
(800) 978-2737.
TASER® is a registered trademark of TASER International, Inc.,
registered in the U.S. All rights reserved. TASER logo and AXON are
trademarks of TASER International, Inc.
Note to Investors
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discloses information from time to time about the company, its
financial information, and its business.
Visit our Investor Relations Safe Harbor Statement at:
http://investor.taser.com/safeHarbor.cfm
For investor relations information please contact Erin Curtis by phone at 480-515-6330 or via
email at IR@TASER.com.
CONTACT:
Sydney Siegmeth
PR Director
EVIDENCE.com
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