By Bill Carey
SA国际传媒
NEW ORLEANS 鈥� In response to assaults on medical responders both nationwide and locally, New Orleans Emergency Medical Services has started equipping some personnel with body-worn cameras to ensure their safety.
In 2020, there were 19 reported assaults on the department in New Orleans. This figure rose sharply to 40 in 2021, more than doubling the previous year鈥檚 total, reported.
Since 2022, the department has invested $46,000 in 45 body-worn cameras for captains, lieutenants, field training officers and employees who choose to wear one voluntarily. The department aims to eventually equip all field personnel with cameras to help deter physical attacks.
鈥淲e wanted some type of bridge or safety barrier for our crews, or as a recourse to prosecute the assailants who cause harm to our medics on scene,鈥� Lieutenant Noah Feldman said.
鈥淚f there is a patient that says, 鈥楲ook, I just don鈥檛 feel comfortable with a camera,鈥� then there is an option to turn it off,鈥� Chief Bill Salmeron said. 鈥淲e want to also respect the public鈥檚 choice to not be on camera, especially if they鈥檙e experiencing some sort of private health emergency.鈥�
The cameras can hold an entire shift鈥檚 worth of footage in their internal memory. When the cameras are placed on a charger, the footage automatically uploads to a secure server.
Employees can access and view the footage for report purposes, but they cannot delete any clips.