Onbody LEO video cameras are becoming more common.

[surprise_i'm_armed]

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6363119n

The above link is about 3 minutes long, and details the use of LEO "head cams" currently being
used by the Cincy, O. PD. These same cameras are being used by San Diego, CA; San Jose, CA; and Aberdeen, SD PD's.
These head-mounted cameras give a higher level of detail about what a LEO sees, as contrasted with the daschcams'
more static view of an encounter.

http://www.officer.com/product/10054246/copvu

The above link is a picture of a different LEO-mounted video device. The CopVu is a 2" by 3" camera,
and is mounted on the officer's chest, looking forward. The officer must turn it on when recording is desired,
and the device will record only 4 hours worth, so it can't be left on for an entire 8 hour work shift.

75 Texas police agencies use CopVu, including Denton County Constables, Frisco PD, and Little Elm PD.
It costs $895, which is cheaper than the $2,500 for a dashcam setup.

The CopVu system was covered in detail in a Dallas Morning News piece on 7/17/2011, but since the paper's
website is subscription-based, I can't link to that story.

http://www.vievu.com/video-samples/

The above link is to the Vievu onbody camera's website. Vievu cams are used by the 3 Watauga, Texas (Tarrant County)
motorcycle officers. It costs about $1,000 per camera. Watauga PD likes them because they don't overheat, like
motorcycle mounted camera systems. FYI - the town's name is pronounced "Wuh-tawg-uh".

SIA

[KD5NRH]

The officer must turn it on when recording is desired,

Well, that'll save them the trouble of losing the video afterward.

[C-dub]

That DPD friend of mine uses something like this. He says he activates it whenever he's going to make a stop or interact with someone. I don't know what model, but I do know it is chest mounted. He uses it for his protection and has used it several times when the person arrested swears they didn't do or say something. They figure since he's a bicycle cop there's no dashcam recording. Well, once he produces the video they clam up real fast.

[Blindref757]

I'm not a BG, so I guess I don't have the same mentality...but I want to be videoed every time I encounter a LEO.

[The Annoyed Man]

There's a new "Cops" type show on TV that features video shot with these head-cams.

[paulhailes]

What happens when the Police Officer forgets to turn it on? Or when the battery dies? From what I can see they only have a four hour battery life. I think this is a great idea, a better video prospective is good for officers, and for law abiding citizens, I just don't think it is ready to replace dashcams yet.

[surprise_i'm_armed]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71A-qpkJ2o0

The above link is a 2 minute, 12 second video from the Albuquerque, NM PD.

At least 2 APD officers responded to a domestic violence call at an apartment complex.

The suspect appeared to be ready to throw a 15" knife at one of the officers, but when he
saw the other officer, the BG raised the knife in a different menacing fashion, and advanced
on the officer.

Despite repeated warnings to drop the knife, and an unsuccessful Tasering, the BG did not drop
the knife. The officer with the camera fired from 7 to 9 rounds from a black semi-automatic,
hitting the BG with 4 rounds.

The BG is subdued on the ground. Although hit 4 times, presumably with a .40, no blood is apparent.
In fact his wounds are believed to be non life-threatening.

The BG has a long record of domestic abuse in multiple states, but is still a problem child to women
he knows, and local LEO's who have to clean up his problems.

SIA