Too often Philadelphia officers have to draw their guns, making life-or-death decisions.

Afterwards, different people see different things.

That's why some think it's time to start another kind of shooting, NBC 10's Lu Ann Cahn reports.

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Images | Video

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The demonstration for the NBC 10 Investigators didn't have a real police car stop or gun, but it really did involve a lipstick-size video camera on a model police weapon.

The motion of drawing the weapon from its holster starts the digital recording of every sound, of everything that moves in front of the barrel of the gun.

"The most unreliable form of testimony is eyewitness testimony," said Bill DeProspo, of PistolCam.

That is why the former prosecutor believes the PistolCam could be a police officer's best witness.

"It eliminates all of that doubt because, right here on the camera -- the camera doesn't lie, they always say -- we have the description, we have most or all of what may have transpired," DeProspo said.

Imagine it in the fatal shooting of Officer Chuck Cassidy when he walked in on what authorities allege was a robbery in progress at a Dunkin' Donuts last month.

Makers of the PistolCam think the lens under the barrel might have gotten a better image of the confessed killer. And when the suspect took the slain officer's gun, they say a GPS system in the camera could have helped track it to the suspect.

Sound like futuristic fantasy? Well, in a matter of months, the PistolCam will be reality for officers in the city of Newburgh, N.Y.

"If the technology is there to be used, then it's an effective tool. We have examined it and there are no safety issues. It's one more tool that we can use," said a Newburgh police captain.

Do the Philadelphia police want it?

"It looks like a good tool, maybe for a specialized unit, such as SWAT," said John McNesby, of the Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police.

Still, at almost $700 apiece, the FOP president isn't buying it. The organization said it's still having issues with the $52 million radio system the city bought. And they need the basics.

"We have a homicide unit that can barely get to the scenes of homicides because they don't have working cars," McNesby said.

But supporters said this is a technology that could save a city millions. Real-time video could be one of the best weapons against long court cases and nuisance lawsuits.

"If somebody wants to, you know, give us one or let us see what it's like, I'll certainly be interested in looking at it," said Mayor-elect Michael Nutter.

One study shows in over 90 percent of cases when police incidents are videotaped, the footage supports and validates the officers' actions.

We want to know what you think: waste of money or interesting idea? Let us know by filling out the form below.

To see pictures of the PistolCam, click here. Watch video of it in use by clicking here. Or, you can visit PistolCam's Web site.