Body Worn Camera Research Paper

Implementation of a Body Worn Camera Program: Concept Paper Police officer involved shootings and perceptions of police misconduct in recent years have prompted the public, politicians, and other stakeholders to demand that police departments equip their officers with body worn cameras. Reactions to each new controversial police incident often lead to increased demands for agencies to institute body worn camera programs The public rightfully expects that the police will demonstrate accountability and transparency. Police agencies must strive to fulfill such expectations through the utilization of a carefully designed body worn camera program that provides appropriate equipment, policy, and training to each officer to ensure the best possible …show more content…
The department does not currently use in car video or body worn cameras (Deputy Chief, David Grover, personal communication, March 16, 2018). Consequently, supervisors do not have the capability of using any video as evidence in investigations of citizen’s complaints or other reported officer misconduct. Sergeants of the Scarborough Police Department are often not at most calls for service so they do not witness a majority of the officers’ behavior. Sergeants also are unable to fully evaluate the actions of their officers to give constructive feedback or discipline for actions they have not witnessed causing a lack of accountability by officers. Body worn cameras will also contribute many other benefits such as improved evidence documentation for court and better behavior of those encountered. The positives of a body worn camera program also come with several negative elements such as the initial and yearly cost of equipment, digital storage, labor to redact and analyze video as well as the necessary planning and research to produce a well-rounded sustainable