In 2016, law enforcement agencies around the world markedly increased their usage of body-worn cameras, recognizing these pieces of tech's potential for accountability and creating a record of encounters between the police and the public. This year was a significant one for body camera technology, with many innovative and highly effective solutions hitting the market. We've compiled a comprehensive review of the best police body cameras of that groundbreaking year.

A New Era in Policing: Body-Worn Cameras

Body cameras serve as unbiased digital eyewitnesses, capturing encounters from the officer's perspective. They promote transparency, protect police officers from unfounded allegations, and provide valuable evidence in criminal proceedings. They're not just useful - they're transforming the face of law enforcement.

Although many models were launched in 2016, a few stood out for their excellent features, durability, efficiency, and user satisfaction.

Axon Body 2: Setting High Standards

The Axon Body 2 by Taser International dominated the body camera market in 2016. Its comprehensive features, including a pre-event buffer that captures 30 seconds of footage before the camera is activated and full-shift battery life, proved immensely beneficial for law enforcement. Moreover, its integration with Evidence.com made data management streamlined and secure.

VieVu LE4: Compact Yet Powerful

The VieVu LE4 gained traction due to its compact design, waterproof capabilities, and a stunning 12-hour battery life. It was appreciated for its simplicity and straightforward operation. And with its unobtrusive design, it allowed the police officers to carry about their duties without hindrance.

Panasonic Arbitrator BWC: The Tech Marvel

Next was the Panasonic Arbitrator BWC, renowned for its excellent video quality due to its Military-Standard 810G design. Its nine-hour battery life and 128GB memory ensured officers were well-covered during their shifts. Moreover, its ability to integrate with in-car systems was an added advantage that streamlined the entire process.

Transcendent Body Camera: A Budget-Friendly Choice

Lastly, for departments with a limited budget, the Transcendent Body Camera was an optimal choice. Despite its affordable price, it didn't skimp on essential features like a 140-degree wide viewing angle, infrared for low light conditions and a sizeable pre-event record buffer.

Evaluating the Impact

The impact of body cameras undoubtedly led to transformative changes. These devices have played a crucial part in increasing accountability, reducing malicious complaints, and improving officers' training, among other things.

A study published by Cambridge University showed a significant decrease in complaints against officers wearing body cameras, indicating improved attitudes and behaviors from both officers and civilians alike, suggesting that major breakthroughs in the field were pioneered in 2016.

The Road Ahead

The ambitious advancements in body camera technology seen in 2016 have set the stage for future innovations. Today, we see high-resolution versions, intelligent algorithms for analyzing footage, and cloud-based storage solutions for better data management.

Every technological investment in law enforcement ultimately has one vital end goal: to better serve and protect our communities. In this sense, the decisions made in 2016 – which devices to invest in and which systems to put in place – were not ends in themselves, but merely beginnings, foundations upon which to build better systems and processes.

Thus, the journey that started in the year 2016 continues, with each subsequent year bringing new, improved additions to the family of body-worn cameras - the silent, unbiased witnesses in our shared pursuit of justice.