Posted on Dec 2, 2014
How does the majority feel about body cameras for police officers nationwide?
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I know some areas in the U.S, police departments have already implemented this plan in their daily routines. I wonder if it will in fact improve relations between cops and the communities or will it fail. It's a great idea because the cameras serve for the cops safety and ours as well. There's just a certain way I feel about police policing their own. I feel in many cases that a police officer will back up a fellow police officer no matter what. Maybe a neutral party to monitor these devices? What are your thoughts on this new plan?
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-30290308
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-30290308
Posted in these groups: 
Accountability
Police
Accountability Police
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 55
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MAJ (Join to see)
Agreed, CPT Zachary Brooks. Obviously there won't usually be time to turn a camera on when something happens, because you're too busy responding to the incident. Having them on for the whole shift is the only way they can realistically help.
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CMSgt James Nolan
CPT Zachary Brooks Yes sir, I think that for them to have any effect, they would need to be on. Because, if an incident happens, the last thing I am going to be thinking is "better turn on the camera".
Having been on a department where "witch hunts" were conducted as a matter of practice, where recorders were turned on during IA interviews, then turned off for some verbal abuse to the officers, then turned back on to capture the officers responses....I am perhaps more cynical than most.
I would just hope that they would only be reviewed if there was an incident that would trigger review. The officers do have to have the ability to turn them off (in my opinion). For example-I am on lunch and call my wife: Nobody needs to hear bupkis about that conversation, and if it is always on, they will. That is unreasonable. If the cameras are implemented and mandatory, they need to be properly used and only properly reviewed.
The streets need tough, honest cops to get the job done. The job is already ridiculously dangerous, cops get sued all the time and we as a society expect miracles from them.
It is a tough call. We want to know that we have good guys doing good work. We want to know that they are not violating civil rights. We also have to make sure that the cops get a fair shake and due process.
Having been on a department where "witch hunts" were conducted as a matter of practice, where recorders were turned on during IA interviews, then turned off for some verbal abuse to the officers, then turned back on to capture the officers responses....I am perhaps more cynical than most.
I would just hope that they would only be reviewed if there was an incident that would trigger review. The officers do have to have the ability to turn them off (in my opinion). For example-I am on lunch and call my wife: Nobody needs to hear bupkis about that conversation, and if it is always on, they will. That is unreasonable. If the cameras are implemented and mandatory, they need to be properly used and only properly reviewed.
The streets need tough, honest cops to get the job done. The job is already ridiculously dangerous, cops get sued all the time and we as a society expect miracles from them.
It is a tough call. We want to know that we have good guys doing good work. We want to know that they are not violating civil rights. We also have to make sure that the cops get a fair shake and due process.
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CPT Zachary Brooks
Majority of use-of-force incidents not recorded by Denver cops’ body cams
Study says 26 percent of use-of-force incidents were captured on video.
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SSG Jerrold English
They make sure their cars and guns are working??? Only a dishonest cop will have an excuse for the cam not working. Gun not working, car not working, Cam not working... STAY AT HOME!
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I am 100% in favor of it, I think it will give clarification to difficult to understand situations; provide legal protection to the Law Enforcement Officer when he reacted correctly and legal protection to the citizen when a Law Enforcement Officer did not act correctly to the situation. My city has purchased a body cam for every officer we have.
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SrA (Join to see)
Do you happen to personally know an leo in your city, and if so how do they feel about this implementation?
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SFC (Join to see)
I happen to know the Mayor and the entire city council that voted to approve the purchase, It was requested by the Chief of Police who is a big fan of his men having them. An old work out buddy who is a Motorcycle Cop likes it as well. So does one of the other patrol officers that stops for a chat when ever he sees us outside.
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I don't know why it's such a big deal. They've been using dash cams for years and it has helped people on both sides. I think that it would help to keep bad officers in check and good ones from being accused of wrong doing.
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CPT Zachary Brooks
Help remove the bad and promote the good. That is the best way to (long term) change a culture.
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