Tom@Hilltop_Machine
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2005
- Location
- Rural Retreat, VA
Folks screaming for body cams might not have thought the process all the way through as this Chief points out. I wear a body cam on interviews and on the few times I wear a uniform working overtime. Some of the places we go and things we hear aren't always suitable for prime time. They can sure help when it comes to complaints against police and in disproving bull shit. I'm used to being recorded: are you??
Quote:
Chief’s Babble….on body cameras.
There has been lots of talk about body cameras lately. Good. I am in favor of every officer wearing one. I believe it will benefit policing far more than anyone could imagine. Let’s look at this, from a few perspectives.
First, These cameras will help me and other police leaders solve the problem of retaliatory complaints. These occur when someone refuses to be accountable for his or her own actions and lodge complaints in order to minimize behavior that resulted in an arrest. We get them here, a few times per year. We have dash cameras and video and sound in our booking area, so we are very fortunate to have an “instant replay.” It has helped me investigate these claims numerous times since I have been the chief. One example of a complaint came from a domestic incident. The arrested person and a relative lodged a complaint of assault and “verbal abuse.” I reviewed every minute of video. I then called the person and his relative in and had them watch. After a couple minutes, both requested that I turn the video off. It involved the arrestee being highly intoxicated, very verbal and very non-complaint with basic requests. It also involved NO misconduct by officers. I advised them that accusing an officer of misconduct and filing a report of that nature was a crime. They left with an understanding. So, for the record, I love body cameras, dash cameras and any other video. They help me do a better job.
Now, for the bad part for citizens. Body cameras are an intrusion into your privacy, believe it or not. Local law enforcement will now become one more spoke in the big wheel of government, taping our interaction with all of YOU. When you call us to your home, we will arrive and hit “record.” The barking dog, neighbor dispute, burglary, identity theft, custody disputes and more will be recorded. When we come to your house for a domestic or a custody/divorce issue, what we record is all public record. Your neighbors, ex-spouses and even enemies can request a copy…and we must provide it. Shortly after that, it will arrive on You Tube. A couple of companies will form on the inter-web, consisting of nothing but body cam footage. It will be a constant, 24 hours per day, seven days per week episode of “Cops”…starring the ordinary American citizen. We get dozens of requests per year for written reports, usually in divorce or neighbor dispute cases. Those could now come with video. Yikes.
The above paragraph is not written to intimidate or scare anyone. It is my opinion of the likely course of this body camera push. In the past, some sensitive issues and locations (the American home) have not been fair game for video. Now, with these cameras in place, defense and civil attorneys will shred the police in court if we chose to not tape some segment of an interaction with the public. It will become a "standard." We will tell them it is because of a victim, child or sensitive situation…and they will accuse us of turning the camera off and abusing authority. This will result in us taping everything, regardless of potential damage and embarrassment to the citizens we are sworn to protect.
All of this is over something that is not as prevalent as some would lead you to believe. Less than two-tenths of one percent of arrests result in the use of deadly force. Those are the facts and those facts are not in dispute.
Welcome to the future. Make sure you are presentable for TV……Chief Oliver
Quote:
Chief’s Babble….on body cameras.
There has been lots of talk about body cameras lately. Good. I am in favor of every officer wearing one. I believe it will benefit policing far more than anyone could imagine. Let’s look at this, from a few perspectives.
First, These cameras will help me and other police leaders solve the problem of retaliatory complaints. These occur when someone refuses to be accountable for his or her own actions and lodge complaints in order to minimize behavior that resulted in an arrest. We get them here, a few times per year. We have dash cameras and video and sound in our booking area, so we are very fortunate to have an “instant replay.” It has helped me investigate these claims numerous times since I have been the chief. One example of a complaint came from a domestic incident. The arrested person and a relative lodged a complaint of assault and “verbal abuse.” I reviewed every minute of video. I then called the person and his relative in and had them watch. After a couple minutes, both requested that I turn the video off. It involved the arrestee being highly intoxicated, very verbal and very non-complaint with basic requests. It also involved NO misconduct by officers. I advised them that accusing an officer of misconduct and filing a report of that nature was a crime. They left with an understanding. So, for the record, I love body cameras, dash cameras and any other video. They help me do a better job.
Now, for the bad part for citizens. Body cameras are an intrusion into your privacy, believe it or not. Local law enforcement will now become one more spoke in the big wheel of government, taping our interaction with all of YOU. When you call us to your home, we will arrive and hit “record.” The barking dog, neighbor dispute, burglary, identity theft, custody disputes and more will be recorded. When we come to your house for a domestic or a custody/divorce issue, what we record is all public record. Your neighbors, ex-spouses and even enemies can request a copy…and we must provide it. Shortly after that, it will arrive on You Tube. A couple of companies will form on the inter-web, consisting of nothing but body cam footage. It will be a constant, 24 hours per day, seven days per week episode of “Cops”…starring the ordinary American citizen. We get dozens of requests per year for written reports, usually in divorce or neighbor dispute cases. Those could now come with video. Yikes.
The above paragraph is not written to intimidate or scare anyone. It is my opinion of the likely course of this body camera push. In the past, some sensitive issues and locations (the American home) have not been fair game for video. Now, with these cameras in place, defense and civil attorneys will shred the police in court if we chose to not tape some segment of an interaction with the public. It will become a "standard." We will tell them it is because of a victim, child or sensitive situation…and they will accuse us of turning the camera off and abusing authority. This will result in us taping everything, regardless of potential damage and embarrassment to the citizens we are sworn to protect.
All of this is over something that is not as prevalent as some would lead you to believe. Less than two-tenths of one percent of arrests result in the use of deadly force. Those are the facts and those facts are not in dispute.
Welcome to the future. Make sure you are presentable for TV……Chief Oliver
