New technology allows 911 dispatchers to see through callers' cameras, body cam of arrest
By: There's now the ability for 911 dispatchers to see what's happening on a scene by using the caller's cellphone camera.
It's already being used to save lives and catch criminals in the act.
Orange County just got online, but the Flagler County Sheriff's Office has been on board for a year now.
"Hey, sheriff's deputy," a deputy said when approaching a burglary suspect.
"Don't run. Hey, stop. Don't run," a deputy said in body cam footage.
The burglar didn't stand a chance. While he was busy trying to break into a car with a screwdriver, deputies with the Flagler County Sheriff's Office were watching his every move.
They knew exactly where to find him when he ran.
"Come out right now. Let me see your hands, both hands," a deputy said in body cam footage.
"Nine-one-one, what is your emergency?" a dispatcher said during a call.
It was all compliments of a new-fangled technology that allows 911 dispatchers to tap into the callers' cell phone camera and livestream it.
"It helps us to give out the information so fast. It's instant," Christina Mortimer, the director of communications, said.
So how does this work? Well, the dispatcher sends a link to the caller.
The caller opens up the link, and at that point, the dispatcher can see what's happening through the caller's camera in real time.
Dispatchers can also send a link to the deputy's computer so everyone is in on the action — everyone except the suspect.
"So at the end of this call, the citizen that called, she got excited. It was like we were all in this together," Mortimer said.
"I'm sending you a link right now. You can click on it," a dispatcher said to a 911 caller.
"Can you see now?" the 911 caller responded.
"Yes, I can see it," the dispatcher responded.
In this case, the citizen was a tenant in the complex.
It's an unbelievable tool for law enforcement but a criminal's worst nightmare.
"I see the deputy approaching," the 911 caller said.
It's all being caught on tape; it can be used in court as evidence.