The New York Police Department is removing nearly 3,000 body cameras from use after one of the devices worn by a Staten Island police officer exploded into flames. According to a report in The New York Times, the recall of the Vievu LE-5 cameras could delay the NYPD’s plan to outfit all 23,000 patrol officers in its department with body cameras by December.
Potential Defects Being Investigated
The use of police body cameras has surged in recent years after a national debate over police interactions with civilians and fatal shootings by officers of mostly men of color. Law enforcement agencies nationwide have equipped officers with body cameras as they conduct investigations and interact with the public. Vievu introduced the LE-5 in October 2017, listing a lithium-ion battery that boasts more than 12 hours of recording time among its features.
NYPD officials say they are investigating the scope and cause of the defect, which caused the device to explode and catch fire. The Staten Island police officer was wearing the body camera during a midnight shift when he noticed smoke emanating from the device. He was not injured when the body camera exploded. Officers assigned to these cameras were told to remove the devices and hand them in right away. Other camera models, including the LE-4 are not affected by the order. The demand for these body cameras has burgeoned into a multibillion-dollar market.
Lithium Batteries and Explosions
Our law firm is very familiar with several cases involving defective lithium-ion batteries. News reports involving lithium battery explosions in cell phones, e-cigarettes, laptops and other devices have been plentiful over the last few years. These types of explosions cause severe injuries ranging from burn injuries and fractures to vision loss and facial injuries.
In this case, it is incredibly fortunate that the officer suffered no major injuries. However, one of our product defect lawyers are represent has not been so lucky. This was a man who was shopping for a television at an Anaheim electronics store when the e-cigarette device in his pants pocket exploded and caught fire, leaving him with severe burn injuries.
Lithium batteries can be dangerous or even deadly when poorly manufactured or made with substandard parts. Because manufacturers of these products urge profits over consumer safety, they can and should be held responsible for the injuries and damages caused.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/21/nyregion/police-body-camera-explode.html
