JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Two local pastors announced an innovation Monday that they believe is the answer to preventing controversial cases like those involving Michael Brown, Jordan Davis and Marissa Alexander.
The product, called the "Family Protection Shield," is a pendant worn by citizens in their everyday lives.
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The product launched Monday, and more than 800 people have purchased the camouflage body cameras so far.
Right now the cameras are being sold in three versions: a button that can worn behind a dress shirt, a writing pen and a cross that can be worn visibly.
All of these products are being called "The Shield" and can be activated discreetly to record interactions with anyone who believes they're in a threatening situation.
"It's not just a device for police, it's a device for life," Malone said.
The device is so small, and resembles every day items, but according to the pastors, inside the button pen and cross is an ability to deliver justice.
"What we're hoping this will do is not just record something that happened, but it will be a preventative measure so that people recognize that surveillance is going on, then they may act differently, and that's what we want to do," Malone said.
The Rev. Fer-Rell Malone and the Rev. Kenneth Adkins believe if Brown was wearing the small video camera when he was shot in Ferguson, Missouri, the details surrounding the shooting would be more clear. A grand jury was expected to hand down a decision Monday on whether the Ferguson police officer who shot and killed Brown would be indicted.
Malone, who is president of The Joshua Project World Wide, said a body camera like "The Shield" might not have prevented Brown's shooting death, but it's a start in the right direction.
"In the case of the grand jury happening right now in Ferguson, had that evidence been made available there would be a different situation in the aspects whatever they had to deliberate on," Malone said.
Malone said after watching the Brown case unfold, he wanted to develop a device that could give anyone, anywhere a voice, even if their life was suddenly taken.
"We want to show the parents instead of buying tennis shoes and video games, we want to get you something that might prevent you from going through some real tough situations and making some real tough decisions," Atkins said.
Malone and Adkins plan to make their way to Ferguson Tuesday following Monday's grand jury announcement. They planned to present body camera crosses to Brown's parents as gifts.
They sold nearly a thousand devices so far Monday. The pastors plan on heading to Ferguson to meet with nearly 100 other pastors.
For more information on the cameras, go to http://thejoshuashield.com.