The Body Worn Camera Case Study

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Police use-of-force and allegations of discriminatory behavior continues to be a source of interest and concerns to both citizens and scholars alike. Whether police actions are justified or unnecessary, police authority without accountability has the potential to tarnish police/community relationship. Furthermore, whether police actions are seen as legitimate is based on the public’s perceptions of whether they trust the police. The Body Worn Camera (BWC) is a tool that holds both police and the public accountable for their actions while instantly documenting and collecting evidence. According to the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF, 2014), citizens’ opinions of the police is based on past encounters they have with the police, how …show more content…

A three tier inspection consist of Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Captain must be implemented for the deployment of BWCs. In order to protect the organization and hold the officers accountable while being transparent, supervisors will conduct monthly inspections to ensure operability and recordings are within policy. Moreover, supervisors will randomly select two dates each month that their employees were working and ensure the number of enforcement contacts matches up with the number of videos submitted. Any discrepancies will require written explanation and if warranted, an investigation by the immediate supervisor. The Lieutenant will conduct monthly unit inspection of all supervisors directly under him; further, he is responsible for ensuring the aforementioned inspections are completed in a timely manner and discrepancy corrected. Lastly, a written report will be submitted to the command Captain for review and approval. The Captain will ensure the report is thorough and all BWC deployment were in compliance with policy and procedures before submitting it to the Chief of Police. With proper use and careful management, the implementation of BWCs can dissuade unethical behaviors, fulfill the public concerns, build trust, and increase citizen’s respect for police

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