Earlier this year, the Montpelier, Vermont, Police Department (MPD) was looking for a new body-worn camera (BWC) solution for its patrol officers. The department was already using an in-car video system, says Montpelier Police Chief Brian Peete, but his patrol officers needed far more capabilities in the field.

The switch was part of an effort by the police force to regain legitimacy and community trust, as well as document emergency responses and crime scenes.¹ Across the United States, more and more police departments are using BWCs to increase transparency and accountability.² The Visual Labs smartphone BWC solution brings the added benefits of real-time positional and situational awareness, improving both officer and public safety.

The MPD was familiar with the shortcomings of traditional BWC systems. Most providers offer proprietary hardware that require separate devices for taking photographs or audio recordings. They also generally require additional hardware such as docking stations or routers to offload videos. The MPD was looking to the future and did not want to accept a solution based on outdated technology. They wanted the latest technology with livestreaming capabilities, GPS positional awareness, still image capture, and secure cloud storage of footage with audit trails and robust access/permission functionality. They also needed flexible mounting options.

After considering many alternatives, MPD chose the Visual Labs smartphone BWC solution, as well as Visual Labs’ in-vehicle camera solution to replace its existing in-vehicle system. Once MPD picked Visual Labs to provide BWC software, they evaluated the hardware options and ultimately chose Kyocera’s DuraSport 5G UW, a ruggedized smartphone with the latest technology. The combination of the rugged Kyocera hardware and the powerful integrated software from Visual Labs resulted in a low-cost solution that met all their requirements while providing interoperability between the in-vehicle and BWC systems.

Within a few weeks, the camera was a department favorite. “My officers love it,” Peete says. “It does much more than a typical body-worn camera does.”

DuraSport was specifically designed to meet the needs of law enforcement agencies. It combines the features of multiple devices into a compact, easy-to-use package that’s tough enough to stand up to daily use on the streets. The Visual Labs software provides all the functionality that is expected from a BWC solution—and much more. The “all-in-one” solution provides each officer with the functionality of a body camera, a digital camera, an audio recorder, and a personnel locator, all within a fully functioning smartphone capable of making phone calls, sending text messages, or any other smartphone function allowed by the agency. Plus, the solution provides significant enhancements to officer and public safety with its ability to livestream directly from the device in conjunction with real-time positional awareness.

Chief Peete says his officers quickly came to appreciate the BWC solution’s wide range of features. Recordings are easy to start with the touch of a button or with a variety of automatic triggers. They can also be started remotely by authorized personnel via the Visual Labs evidence management platform. Once activated, DuraSport’s wide-angle HD camera captures action across a 117-degree field of view.

Video recordings are automatically uploaded to secure cloud storage via Verizon 4G LTE and 5G Ultra Wideband networks. This eliminates the need for docking stations as well as any worries about running out of memory on the device itself. Even better, the upload process does not require any intervention by the officer, making it much more efficient.

On location, Montpelier officers use the camera to upload images of collision damage, driver licenses and insurance cards. They can also add case numbers and tags for different types of events, from traffic stops to felony arrests. Locations are added automatically via dual-band GPS. Peete pointed out an instance when an officer who was capturing video and still photographic evidence from a crime scene was impressed that the solution seamlessly uploaded all evidence to the cloud for immediate access.

Once the automatic upload is completed, videos, photographs, and audio recordings are accessible via the Visual Labs web-based evidence management platform. Livestreaming from one or multiple cameras can provide real-time situational awareness so commanders can respond immediately in situations where time is critical.

Visual Labs’ CJIS-compliant software includes digital fingerprinting to preserve the chain of custody, multifactor authentication and other security features. Footage from multiple cameras can be synchronized for simultaneous playback to get a broader perspective of complex events. Digital evidence can be easily shared electronically and securely to district attorneys or other appropriate parties.

Since DuraSport 5G can be used to make phone calls and send text messages, Peete says it serves as an important form of backup communication in places where their land mobile radios (LMR) don’t work. “Vermont is very hilly, so it’s especially handy that I can use my cellphone as a mobile radio,” he says. “My officers can get in touch with each other in high-risk and mutual aid situations.”

“In terms of the flexibility that law enforcement needs nowadays, there’s no other option but this partnership between Kyocera and Visual Labs. Nothing comes close to it.” —Brian Peete, Montpelier, Vermont, Police Chief

None of these features would matter if the device couldn’t stand up to the rigors of daily police work. That’s why DuraSport was engineered to operate under conditions that would challenge a non-rugged smartphone, from rough handling to weather extremes. It meets IP68 ratings for protection against water and dust intrusion and MIL-STD-810H standards for enhanced durability.

At the same time, the device is as compact and lightweight as a regular smartphone—and surprisingly easy to use. “Within law enforcement, we’re transitioning from wearing everything on our gun belts to wearing everything on our vests,” Peete says. “We don’t have much real estate left, so it’s great that it’s not a big brick phone. DuraSport 5G is very user-friendly and intuitive to learn—you can be up and running within a few hours.”

“I appreciate all the thought that’s been put into this device,” Peete says. “In terms of the flexibility that law enforcement needs nowadays, there’s no other option but this partnership between Kyocera and Visual Labs. Nothing comes close to it.”

Notes:

¹Montpelier Police Department, “Body Worn Camera Program,” policy, April 29, 2021.

²National Institute of Justice, “Research on Body-Worn Cameras and Law Enforcement,” January 7, 2022.