MONROE - The Monroe Police Department has a new piece of equipment to help officers fight crime.
Officers have started to use four devices that can record audio and color video, which are worn on the officers' uniforms, Monroe Police Chief Fred Kelley said Tuesday.
The recorders are similar to the audio/video recorders in squad cars. The equipment in squad cars allows officers to tape such things as roadside sobriety tests and the actions of officers and motorists during a traffic stop.
The recorders will allow officers to tape activities that happen away from their vehicles, Kelley said.
The officers will be able to record what happens at a robbery in progress or at a domestic dispute, he said. It also will make it easier for officers to gather information, Kelley said.
"We'll be able to see what happens at these incidents," he said. "Once a defense attorney views the recording, the case may be disposed of with a plea, rather than take up court time."
The recorders also will record the words and actions of the officers who respond to a call.
"Complaints about an officer's conduct can be better investigated," Kelley said.
The recorders can gather up to four hours of information, Kelley said. At the end of each shift, officers will download the information to a storage system at the department.
The recorders normally sell for about $900.
Kelley said the department got the four recorders for about half the price. He said the money for the equipment came from the department's budget.
The Freeport, Ill., Police Department and the Appleton Police Department use the same recorders, Kelley said.
Officers have started to use four devices that can record audio and color video, which are worn on the officers' uniforms, Monroe Police Chief Fred Kelley said Tuesday.
The recorders are similar to the audio/video recorders in squad cars. The equipment in squad cars allows officers to tape such things as roadside sobriety tests and the actions of officers and motorists during a traffic stop.
The recorders will allow officers to tape activities that happen away from their vehicles, Kelley said.
The officers will be able to record what happens at a robbery in progress or at a domestic dispute, he said. It also will make it easier for officers to gather information, Kelley said.
"We'll be able to see what happens at these incidents," he said. "Once a defense attorney views the recording, the case may be disposed of with a plea, rather than take up court time."
The recorders also will record the words and actions of the officers who respond to a call.
"Complaints about an officer's conduct can be better investigated," Kelley said.
The recorders can gather up to four hours of information, Kelley said. At the end of each shift, officers will download the information to a storage system at the department.
The recorders normally sell for about $900.
Kelley said the department got the four recorders for about half the price. He said the money for the equipment came from the department's budget.
The Freeport, Ill., Police Department and the Appleton Police Department use the same recorders, Kelley said.