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Bullish +75

Prestonsburg police expand in-car camera program to boost transparency and accountability

AI-generated analysis

🚓 The Prestonsburg Police Department is installing AXON Enterprise Fleet 3 in-car cameras across all patrol and detective vehicles.

📹 The new system includes forward-facing, rear-facing, and prisoner partition-mounted cameras to capture previously missed angles.

🛰️ Fleet 3 enhances fleet management with real-time GPS tracking and automatic over-the-air uploads of recording events.

🎯 This expansion addresses coverage gaps identified since the body-worn camera program launched two years ago.

📹 Every law enforcement contact will now be captured on camera, including emergency driving and DUI vehicle behavior.

⚡ The system activates automatically when emergency lights are used, a TASER is deployed, or a service weapon is brandished.

🔒 Recordings remain active for the duration of an encounter and are governed by a comprehensive recording equipment policy.

👮 Officers undergo monthly random quality control reviews of videos through the evidence.com platform.

🛡️ The department now utilizes a full suite of AXON flagship products, including the TASER 10 Conducted Energy weapon.

🏆 No other agency in the region has deployed this specific combination of technology and equipment.

👔 Chief Ross C. Shurtleff attributes the program's roots to Mayor Rick Hughes, who took office in spring 2024.

💰 Funding for these capital projects was secured with support from the City Council, Finance Committee, and Comptroller Miranda Shepherd.

📈 Since launching the body-worn camera program two years ago, the department has seen an increase in pre-trial convictions.

✅ The department reports a vindication of every complaint filed against officers since the program began.

📉 There has been a decrease in the total number of complaints filed against officers since the program started.

Bullish Signals
  • The Prestonsburg Police Department is deploying AXON Enterprise Fleet 3 in-car cameras to all patrol and detective vehicles, establishing the only fully deployed electronic evidence system among non-state-government law enforcement agencies in the region.
  • The new system features forward and rear-facing cameras plus a prisoner partition camera, capturing every law enforcement contact including emergency driving and DUI vehicle behavior that were previously outside the scope of body-worn cameras.
  • The AXON solution activates automatically when emergency lights are activated, a TASER is used, or a service weapon is brandished, ensuring comprehensive recording without officer input.
  • Recordings are managed through evidence.com platform with monthly random quality control reviews and tamper-proof storage, enhancing data integrity and accountability.
  • The full suite of AXON flagship products now deployed includes the TASER 10 Conducted Energy less-lethal weapon, a combination of technology not deployed by any other agency in the region.
  • Since the body-worn camera program launched two years ago, the department reported an increase in pre-trial convictions in criminal cases and a decrease in total complaints filed against officers.
  • The expansion addresses coverage gaps identified since the program's launch, improving transparency and accountability as outlined by Mayor Rick Hughes and supported by City Council funding.
Risk Factors
  • The article states that the body-worn camera program launched two years ago had identified coverage gaps, including limited views during patrol operations, certain angles during DUI investigations, and response-to-resistance scenarios.
Full Analysis
The Prestonsburg Police Department is deploying AXON Enterprise Fleet 3 in-car cameras across all patrol and detective vehicles to enhance transparency and accountability within the department. This expansion builds upon an existing body-worn camera program that was recognized as the only fully deployed electronic evidence system among non-state-government law enforcement agencies in the region. The new Fleet 3 system includes forward and rear-facing cameras, a camera mounted in the prisoner partition area, real-time GPS tracking, and automatic over-the-air uploads of recording events to address previous coverage gaps identified since the body-worn program launched two years ago. The upgrade ensures that every law enforcement contact is captured on camera, including emergency driving, hard event activations, and DUI vehicle behavior, which were previously outside the scope of body-worn cameras. The system activates automatically when emergency lights are used, a TASER or service weapon is brandished or activated, ensuring recordings remain active for the duration of an encounter without requiring officer input. Recordings are managed by evidence.com, which handles tamper-proof storage and monthly random quality control reviews. Chief of Police Ross C. Shurtleff noted that the program's expansion aligns with priorities set by Mayor Rick Hughes, who took office in spring 2024, focusing on quality of life, transparency, accountability, productivity, and public safety. Funding for this capital project was secured through collaboration between the City Council, Finance Committee, and City Comptroller Miranda Shepherd. Since implementing the body-worn camera program two years ago, the department has reported an increase in pre-trial convictions, a vindication of every complaint filed against officers, and a decrease in total complaints filed. The Prestonsburg Police Department is now one of the few agencies in the region to deploy this combination of AXON technology, including TASER 10 Conducted Energy less-lethal weapons.