Back in February of 2020, footage of an officer involved shooting from the body worn camera (BWC) and weapon mounted camera(WMC) of Vernon Police Cpl. T.J. Session surfaced making the historical remark of the first ever weapon mounted camera shooting in the world.

 

As Vernon Police Cpl. T.J. Session attempted to make contact with a suspect he recognized as having a warrant, T.J. Session opened the driver side door to pull the suspect out, who then threw his vehicle in reverse and floored it while T.J Session hopped on (I'm assuming were) road runners of the vehicle. The suspect rammed the front end of Sessions police SUV with the rear end of his vehicle.

 

At that point Officer Session unholstered his duty issued weapon and hopped off the vehicle while the suspect presented a sawed-off shotgun firing at Session, striking him. Session had taken 41 shotgun pellets to his left arm and shoulder — where 36 pellets remain to this day. While at that point the WMC activated as soon as the weapon was removed from the holster and began recording. The WMC captured video evidence of the sawed-off shotgun the suspect presented which was not seen on body worn camera.

 

The WMC in question is FACT DUTY WEAPON-MOUNTED CAMERA manufactured by Viridan. The WMC offers 1080p HD video quality and audio with a 500 lumen tactical light or with a green laser addition. 

Screenshots of the WMC are in the spoiler below. SCREENSHOTS GATHERED FROM Viridan -  more information on the WMC can be found on their website.

Spoiler

1080P HD CAMERA AND AUDIO

 

500 LUMEN TACTICAL LIGHT

 

INSTANT-ON® ACTIVATION.

 

What are your thoughts on a weapon mounted camera? Should more departments invest in this technology? Would YOU ever invest in this technology if you'd carry?

Let me know! I'm interested in seeing different view points.

 

Partial WMC Footage of OIS with T.J. Session

 

WMC Demonstration

 

IF THERE ARE ANY MISTAKES NOTICED WITHIN THIS POST SUCH AS THE STORY OR GRAMMAR MISTAKES, FEEL FREE TO NOTIFY ME VIA PM - I WILL FIX IT AS SOON AS I CAN! :))

Edited April 14, 20206 yr by Chaco

I think it's overkill with the prevalence of body worn cameras. Every new device is another point of failure. I'm sure it's well made, but it's an electronic device. I'd wager it has a failure point from kinetic shock damage. How many rounds go through that handgun before it fails? Even a forensically confirmed device failure will result in "why didn't the officer have his weapon camera on, he needs to be fired/arrested/sued/drawn and quartered/etc."

 

I think between body worn cameras and dash cameras, there is sufficient documentation.