Over the past decade, the technology used by law enforcement agencies throughout the United States has been accelerating at an exceptionally rapid pace. Several police executives are making critical decisions about whether purchase technologies that simply did not exist when they started their careers. Technologies such as facial recognition software, license plate readers or body cameras. For many police departments and its executives the big challenge is not whether to purchase the new technology, but rather finding the right technology for their given jurisdiction based on the problems and the crimes that they encounter in their areas, including the funding for that equipment. Due to the fact that technology is advancing faster that
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The person encountering the officer may be recording it on his or her phone, and if there is some type of altercation or conflict, nearby witnesses are also likely to be recording it. Also not to forget that there are fixed security cameras present in many locations that can also capture the interaction. With these facts in mind, it only makes sense to use these cameras to also have video from the officer’s perspective. The use of police body cameras also brings up few important questions regarding trust and privacy. There are many privacy issues that are associated with recording victims of crimes, particularly involving sexy crimes. Also how can police officers maintain positive relationships in the community if they are ordered to record every type of interaction with its members? Someone that is willing to be an informant or be the person that is reporting a crime is less likely would want to make contact with officers if they know they are being recorded and that their identity and statement is recorded. Also will these cameras weaken the trust between officer and their superiors? In addition to all these issues, police executives and leaders must also consider the other issues, such as practical policy for use of these devices, the financial cost for deploying these body cameras daily and storing the information, along …show more content…
In 2012, the Rialto police department in partnership with University of Cambridge also examined if these cameras would help reduce the number of complaints against their officers. Over course of one year the department arbitrarily assigned body cameras to their officers over 988 shifts. The study later found that there was a 60 percent reduction in use of force involving the officers equipped with cameras. They also found that there was an 80 percent reduction in number of complaints from the year prior to deployment of the cameras. The Chief of Rialto police, (Tony Farrar) believe that the reduction of complaints may be due to the fact that not only the officers were behaving better, but also the citizens due to the fact that they knew they were on camera. After a twelve month trial period, Chief Tony Farrar stated: "The findings suggest more than a 50% reduction in the total number of incidents of use-of-force compared to control-conditions and nearly ten times more citizens’ complaints in the 12-months prior to the experiment." (Police Foundation, 2014). Body cameras have also helped with resolving much more serious incidents such as officer involved
The person encountering the officer may be recording it on his or her phone, and if there is some type of altercation or conflict, nearby witnesses are also likely to be recording it. Also not to forget that there are fixed security cameras present in many locations that can also capture the interaction. With these facts in mind, it only makes sense to use these cameras to also have video from the officer’s perspective. The use of police body cameras also brings up few important questions regarding trust and privacy. There are many privacy issues that are associated with recording victims of crimes, particularly involving sexy crimes. Also how can police officers maintain positive relationships in the community if they are ordered to record every type of interaction with its members? Someone that is willing to be an informant or be the person that is reporting a crime is less likely would want to make contact with officers if they know they are being recorded and that their identity and statement is recorded. Also will these cameras weaken the trust between officer and their superiors? In addition to all these issues, police executives and leaders must also consider the other issues, such as practical policy for use of these devices, the financial cost for deploying these body cameras daily and storing the information, along …show more content…
In 2012, the Rialto police department in partnership with University of Cambridge also examined if these cameras would help reduce the number of complaints against their officers. Over course of one year the department arbitrarily assigned body cameras to their officers over 988 shifts. The study later found that there was a 60 percent reduction in use of force involving the officers equipped with cameras. They also found that there was an 80 percent reduction in number of complaints from the year prior to deployment of the cameras. The Chief of Rialto police, (Tony Farrar) believe that the reduction of complaints may be due to the fact that not only the officers were behaving better, but also the citizens due to the fact that they knew they were on camera. After a twelve month trial period, Chief Tony Farrar stated: "The findings suggest more than a 50% reduction in the total number of incidents of use-of-force compared to control-conditions and nearly ten times more citizens’ complaints in the 12-months prior to the experiment." (Police Foundation, 2014). Body cameras have also helped with resolving much more serious incidents such as officer involved