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PUBLIC SAFETY SOLUTIONS
Principis Group Inc. has the knowledge, skills, and experience to assist public safety agencies of any size to navigate the complexities of developing, implementing, operating, managing, and evaluating a body-worn camera program through consulting services.
Designing and implementing a body-worn camera program is an extremely complex endeavor that requires extensive and dedicated thought, time, effort, and resources to get right. This can be a daunting task for any governmental and/or public safety administrator, especially when there are external pressures to deploy cameras quickly. Implementation must be viewed as a “process” and not a “project” which will set the organizational tone and culture for adopting body-worn cameras. There are significant negative operational, fiscal, and public relations consequences if the implementation process is flawed or the agency loses sight of the goals of accountability and transparency.
Public safety executives must make an honest appraisal of their agency’s internal knowledge, experience, ability, staffing and time constraints to complete the requisite process tasks with available resources. The results of this appraisal will ultimately dictate the effectiveness and efficiency of the implementation process. The agency must commit to a specific, but flexible, process which includes extensive planning, constant collaborations, efficient resource allocation and effective operations management.
TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS
Principis Group Inc. has the knowledge and experience to provide valuable insight and advice to camera system manufacturers and associated product vendors on the processes and challenges faced by public safety agencies in all phases of body-worn camera system deployment, operations, and management. Additionally, Principis Group Inc. can help facilitate understanding and collaboration between participating agencies and manufacturers during the procurement and deployment cycle.
Body-worn camera manufacturers and associated technology providers must be on the leading edge of innovative camera design, video management software development, cost-effective storage solutions, and compelling marketing to stay competitive. This requires a thorough understanding of the needs of public safety in general as well as the specific needs and constraints of individual agencies. There are, however, a number of challenges that have to be overcome to stay ahead of the competition.
Body-worn camera technology is developing so rapidly that it outpaces the ability of most public safety administrators to stay current with the latest research, product developments and reviews. Few public safety agencies have effectively and/or correctly identified and researched their body-worn camera system needs. Many have unreasonable product and cost expectations. Still fewer yet have truly planned beyond their initial purchase and deployment. Add to this local politics, fiscal process limitations, a general perception that vendors are not forthright, and a lack of accurate manufacturer insight into the law enforcement world, and the task of selecting and purchasing the right product becomes time-consuming and costly.
GOVERNMENT SOLUTIONS
Principis Group Inc. has the knowledge to consult or train government planners and decision-makers on all aspects of purchasing and implementing a body-worn camera system. Risk management, grant application, and agency facilitation are all additional services that can be provided by Principis Group Inc.
Local and state governments are quickly finding themselves at the political and fiscal epicenter in the debate over body-worn cameras. Controversial and high-profile police-citizen encounters, some that are uploaded to social media even before they are reported on by the press, can propel governmental entities into a process of selecting and implementing body-worn cameras without proper preparation or planned funding. It is imperative that the proper decisions are made about implementing a cost effective and adequate body-worn camera program in a public safety agency before a crisis occurs. Hasty decisions made under community and media pressure can result in less than optimal results and most often with negative fiscal impact and/or negative community relations.
Local officials require objective, unbiased, information and insights based on experience that may not be available from the police department. Body-worn camera purchases are an costly expenditure that require long-term foresight, effective planning and a collaborative effort between government and the police department.