New York City correction officers have been told not to wear their body cameras after one caught fire at Rikers Island.
Department of Correction officials report that a captain sustained injuries Friday night after her camera caught fire.
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In order to conduct an investigation, the department has taken all body cameras offline.
Body camera burns Rikers captain
According to a statement, the Department of Corrections (DOC) reported that a fire occurred on Friday at the George R. Vierno Center.
Mount Sinai Hospital rushed the injured captain for burns and smoke inhalation treatment.
“Our Captain, who was injured in this incident, is in our thoughts. Ensuring the safety of our staff is of utmost importance to us. Therefore, as a precautionary measure, we have decided to temporarily suspend the use of body-worn cameras while we investigate the cause and circumstances surrounding this incident,” stated DOC Commissioner Lynelle Maginley-Liddie.
DOC pulls cameras pending investigation
DOC officials want to know what went wrong that caused the fire.
“The department is currently in contact with the manufacturer to thoroughly investigate the cause and circumstances surrounding this incident. As a precautionary measure, all Body-Worn Cameras (BWCs) will be taken offline until the investigation is concluded,” stated the department.
The Federal Monitor responsible for overseeing Rikers Island has been informed about the incident and the subsequent decision to remove the cameras, CBS New York has learned.
Officials claim that over 12,000 cameras continuously monitor all DOC facilities. Officers can even deploy handheld cameras during specific incidents.
