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OREM — Body cameras in recent months have been a hot topic among law enforcement and also the community. Agencies across the state are arming their officers with the video and audio recording device. But the technology is nothing new for one local business.
Safety Innovations created the first body camera in the United States in 2005.
“We’ve been doing it longer than anybody,” said Michael Nelson, Safety Innovations CEO.
More than 500 police agencies around the country now use Saftey Innovations' VidMic camera, according to the company. The family-owned business started off with small success, but it took nearly a decade before they would hit it big.
“There wasn’t a high demand then because people didn’t really understand the need for it,” said Nelson.
Whenever an officer goes, that camera records and sees everything that officer does.
–Lieutenant Sam Liddiard, American Fork Police Department
Across the country, law enforcement and citizens started questioning how additional evidence could be provided following events such as the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and the shooting of Darrien Hunt in Saratoga Springs. Consequently, the demand for body cameras has increased.
“We’ve seen a significant uptick,” said Nelson.
The American Fork Police Department was the first agency in Utah to team up with Safety Innovations in 2007 to provide body cameras to police officers.
“Whenever an officer goes, that camera records and sees everything that officer does,” said Lieutenant Sam Liddiard, American Fork Police Department.
Liddiard said his officers have watched as accused criminals transform into law-abiding citizens with the touch of a record button.
According to Liddiars, 33% of officers say they feel safer wearing the camera, and 93% of officers accused of misconduct are exonerated with help from video evidence.
But the demand for the body cam is now going beyond law enforcement.
“It’s government agencies, it’s school police forces, it’s university police forces that are starting to look at using technology,” Nelson said.
