9 Investigates: Possible problems with OPD body cameras

ORLANDO, Fla. — 9 Investigates learned that 450 Orlando police officers will begin to use body cameras by March.

The city agreed Monday afternoon to negotiate a contract with Motorola Solutions, a company relatively new to the body camera business.

Investigative reporter Daralene Jones learned the cameras have already caused a problem for one police agency in Illinois.

The police chief of the department in Illinois told Eyewitness News that the issue surrounds the battery power of the camera to capture live video, take photos and store other data applications.

The forward-facing cameras look similar to an iPhone and are worn across the officer’s chest.

The body cameras will cost taxpayers $1.1 million.

Motorola Solutions, based in suburban-Chicago, is new to the body camera industry, rolling out its cameras last year. 9 Investigates learned there have already been problems with the battery life, causing the cameras to die quickly.

“What are you all doing here to address those issues?” Daralene Jones asked Orlando Police Chief John Mina.

“We're going to request that they give us 10-hour batteries, so I'm not concerned about the battery issues. I think we're going to be fine. With any technology, there's always going to be battery life issues,” Mina said.

9 Investigates obtained score sheets that showed how Motorola beat out two other companies, including Taser International. Taser was initially a front-runner, but the city was forced to re-bid the contract.

Media reports revealed Officers Anna Melnick and Brian Cechowski may have had a conflict of interest because they were working side jobs with Taser International and Cechowski was intimately involved in the OPD body camera program.

Both now face ethics complaints and internal investigations, which are ongoing.

In addition to the $1.1 million to start up the program with Motorola, it will cost taxpayers $800,000 a year to maintain the body camera program because of the cost to store and manage the data collected.

“Let's face it, when people know they're on camera, know they're on video, it changes behavior,” Mina said.

Mina told Eyewitness News battery life will be part of discussions, as the department negotiates the contract.

Cox Media Group