JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Video from police body cameras in the deadly officer-involved shooting in Charlotte have still left many with unanswered questions.
Body cameras have become a topic of discussion locally as the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office are preparing to spend millions of dollars for a pilot program of body cameras next year.
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News4Jax crime and safety analyst Gil Smith watched the Charlotte police body camera video and weighed in on how reliable the footage is, especially in high profile cases.
"Mr. Scott is inside the vehicle. They are taking cover to protect themselves," Smith said. "They are making commands get out of the car, get out of the car."
Smith broke down the dashcam video, along with body camera footage, from the police shooting of Keith Scott in Charlotte.
"If you have several officers yelling that, then more than likely he does," Smith said.
As Scott backed away from the vehicle, shots being fired were heard.
"Here's the body cam, and it's really not good video because it's moving all around." Smith said.
News4Jax's investigative reporter Lynnsey Gardner asked Smith why the body camera video was from after the shooting and not the footage from the officers, or officer, who did the shooting.
"That's going to be different from each police department," Smith said. "It's not like you buy a camcorder out at a store and put it on and start recording. There are federal laws, state laws, FOP policies. Some officers are required to wear a body camera, some are not."
Scott's family said he was a father who suffered from a traumatic brain injury and was clutching a book instead of a gun.
Charlotte police disagreed and released pictures of a gun on the ground that they said had Scott's fingerprints on it, along with an ankle holster and marijuana.
As the investigation continues, Smith said the video will be an important element to the case.
He said those who watch it need to keep in mind what can't be seen, or more importantly, felt.
"I didn't feel the tension, the pressure that these police officers felt at that time, and that's one thing you can't get from body cams, because we already knew that end result," Smith said. "We knew he had been shot. They have to make that decision instantly."
The Justice Department is still investigating the Scott shooting.
The pilot program for JSO body cameras will begin in 2017, with full implementation expected by next summer.
The sheriff's office estimates body cameras for Jacksonville police to cost between three and five million dollars.