Armed with voice recorders
Altadena sheriff's deputies got a $3,200 donation. What will they spend the money on? Sixty electronic voice recorders, four Tasers and 27 holsters.
"This affords (deputies) a tool in dealing with people on traffic stops," said Lt. Scott Young. "When complaints come in alleging they have been rude, they're encouraged to use the tape."
From time to time, people stopped for traffic violations make complaints against the deputies involved, accusing them of being harsh or curt with their language, he said.
When internal officials look into the complaint, it will be to a deputy's benefit to have the conversation recorded, Young said.
As someone who has long ditched the idea of recorders because they are a hassle, run out of batteries and are a pain in the butt to listen to, here are the problems I imagine the deputies will encounter: The deputies will forget to turn it on, will forget it, will lose it, will not want to deal with it as he is writing a citation, or the batteries will die and it will get tossed in the corner somewhere.
Even the story says that they have them but its been a problem.
The station has provided recorders in recent years, but many of them have stopped working or were kept by deputies who have left the department, Young said
It's a good idea, in theory, but it seems like it's a waste of money.
Comments
It's anything but a waste. It will either help exonerate an complained about an deputy or not. So many doubters regarding the veracity of law enforcement officers pretty much make these a have to. Where's the waste?
Local Boy
Posted by: Local Boy | February 22, 2008 12:58 PM
Heck, I guess the use of funds is probably best left to the police to decide.
Local Boy...wonder if you can educate me on this one - do the police need to indicate that they are recording the conversation or are they exempt from such a disclosure?"
Posted by: Gilman | February 22, 2008 4:23 PM
Gilman...No different than unit cameras. The tapes are mainly administrative in use and until they were entered as evidence for prosecution would the taping come into play. It would be based on individual circumstances and then argued as to admissibility or not in court. My opinion.
Posted by: Tom | February 23, 2008 8:12 AM
Thanks for the insight Tom....much appreciated.
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