New CopTrax cameras ensures officers safety in Centerville

CENTERVILLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A local police agency says using a new camera system inside squad cars has proven to be cost effective.

Centerville police started using CopTrax about two months ago. The new video camera system cost the city $46,000

Officers say the new cameras also help keep them safe.

The CopTrax video is broadcast to a secured website, and other officers can watch the live feed.

“The cameras are downloaded on to an icloud, so whenever evidence is requested from the video we simply just give them a internet website and email them the video,” says Centerville Asst. Police Chief, W.G. COOLEY.

Cooley says the cameras are installed in seven of the agency’s nine police cars.

“The older camera system which we replaced was subject to heat and cold, wear and tear from the elements, because we are in Georgia and it does get hot in those patrol cars,” he says.

When the blue lights are turned on the camera system will automatically come on, or they have the option to remotely turn it on if they are outside the car by using a belt mic, according to Cooley.

Sgt. Jason Keller says CopTrax is effecient and time saving.

“We use to have to burn a disc of all our traffic stops or incident calls and now we’re able to download it straight to a cloud,” says Keller.

The 18 year veteran officer says CopTrax also ensures their safety.

“It’s able to let anyone that is on patrol at the time, view the recording of the traffic stop as it happens,” says Sgt. Keller.

Keller says that video will show exactly what happened as officers respond to calls.