Panasonic Solutions Company, a provider of rugged mobile technology solutions for law enforcement, announced that the Florida Highway Patrol has selected its Mobile Digital Video System for statewide vehicle deployment. More than 700 State Trooper vehicles have already been outfitted by Panasonic with the digital video solution as part of the Patrol's initiatives to streamline evidence collection ...
Panasonic Solutions Company, a provider of rugged mobile technology solutions for law enforcement, announced that the Florida Highway Patrol has selected its Mobile Digital Video System for statewide vehicle deployment. More than 700 State Trooper vehicles have already been outfitted by Panasonic with the digital video solution as part of the Patrol's initiatives to streamline evidence collection and management processes and enhance officer safety. An additional 300 units will be installed as part of this engagement.
The Mobile Digital Video is a complete system for evidence capture and management. It is the only all digital solid-state video system, capturing up to 2500-hours of high-quality video to four Class 10 SD Memory Cards. The Mobile Digital Video system compresses files for easy storage and fast, secure and auditable wireless transmission of full-motion video. All video and audio data files can be indexed and searched for rapid access by time, date, officer, vehicle or incident. Like all Panasonic solutions, the Mobile Digital Video system is built to endure the rugged environments of law enforcement use, with a shock-resistant, multi-function mount that can withstand vibration and frequent physical shocks to the vehicle.
“The Florida Highway Patrol purchased the Panasonic Mobile Digital Video system to enhance our ability to capture and convict impaired drivers, while enhancing the safety of our troopers,” said Col. David H. Brierton, Jr., Director of the Florida Highway Patrol. “We now have a useful tool benefiting our troopers, agency and the communities we serve.”
The investment in a digital video solution extends beyond just the hardware. It includes training and back office infrastructure. To aid the Florida Highway Patrol with a speedy deployment, Panasonic Solutions Company provided comprehensive engagement support, including vehicle installation, server implementation, training, and professional services.
“In-vehicle digital video is no longer optional. It's mandatory for law enforcement,” said Scott French, VP of public sector sales for Panasonic Solutions Company. “Innovators, such as the Florida Highway Patrol, recognize how a complete digital evidence capture and management system can help increase officer safety and protect departments from false allegations and frivolous lawsuits, while increasing the likelihood of successful prosecution.”
In 2004, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) conducted law enforcement's most comprehensive study of in-vehicle camera usage. The results highlighted the dramatic impact of video systems on officer safety and judicial process. The survey found that 33-percent of officers felt safer with the in-vehicle cameras. Additionally, 48-percent of officers reported that citizens were less aggressive when they knew an incident was being recorded. Of prosecutors surveyed in the study, more than 91-percent said they used in-car video evidence in court and that the evidence enhanced their ability to obtain convictions and increased the number of guilty pleas before a case went to trial.