Kenosha P.D. taking added step to protect dashcam video

KENOSHA (WITI) -- Police dashcam video is a critical piece of evidence that can make or break a case, and now, Kenosha police officials are taking steps to make sure this dashcam video can be seen and heard when it is needed to help solve a case.

When police officers are racing to a crime scene, adrenaline is high, and officers often aren't thinking about how loud their music is.

"If it's a hot call, you're going to jump out. The last thing I think about is bringing down the radio," Kenosha Police Chief John Morrissey said.

Officials say that music can disrupt the dashcam video -- making it difficult if not impossible to hear what is going on at the crime scene.

"I would love them to get in the habit of every time they get a call, flipping it off," Chief Morrissey said.

The Kenosha Police Department is no longer leaving it up to the officers. Starting in March, when the lights go on and the camera starts recording, the radio will shut off.

"It will basically deactivate or sever a connection to the audio output of the radio," Fleet Maintenance Manager Pat Sepanski said.

This will make sure no music overpowers the sounds of an officer interaction.

"The officer's audio as well as anyone else who is being recorded should be much more clear," Sepanski said.

This is a move people in Kenosha are happy to see.

"If it's a distraction to me, I feel it could obviously be a huge distraction to police officers and they have the added responsibility of having a dashcam and monitoring everyone's safety," one Kenosha resident told FOX6 News.

The switchers are being installed in close to 40 patrol vehicles. The process is time-consuming and the cost is about $20 a car.