Police Body Camera Explodes in NYC, Prompting Investigation

Nearly 3,000 body cameras have been suspended while the NYPD looks into the incident involving Vievu LE-5 model cameras.

NEW YORK CITY — The New York City Police Department has pulled nearly 3,000 police body cameras after one began smoking before it exploded.

According to an announcement from the NYPD, a police officer was on a midnight patrol and noticed smoke exiting from the bottom portal of the body cam and immediately removed it. After it was safely removed, the device exploded.

The incident revealed a potential for the battery inside the camera to ignite, according to the NYPD. The defect involves Vievu model LE-5 body-worn cameras.

The Police Commissioner directed that the continued use and distribution of the LE-5 model cameras be suspended effective immediately, with all officers assigned LE-5 cameras instructed to immediately remove the cameras and bring them back to their commands.

The NYPD also uses Vievu model LE-4 body-worn cameras, however there is believed to be no issue with those models and the department will continue to utilize them while investigating the LE-5 models.

The suspension affects about 2,990 cameras being used by police officers in 15 out of city’s 77 police precincts, as well as several other commands, according to the Daily Beast.

Last April, NYC’s body camera program received the greenlight from a Federal Judge after being postponed repeatedly as various groups debated over how to put it into action.

SSI will update this article when the NYPD reveals the findings of its investigation.

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