AN OPINION ON BODY CAMERAS Ive had several newspapers ask for my opinion on body cameras. I dont know if youve read one of these publications recently but let me go into more detail than just a two sentence response. Right now Macedonia has dashboard cameras with body mics. The cameras are mounted on the dash board and the officer have mics that go on their belt or in their pocket or where ever. Most of the time the cameras are used for DUI, crash, and pursuit video. The mics the officers carry record most conversations. The few complaints we get (the officer was rude or yelled at me) usually are able to be covered by the audio portion of the recordings. Usually. Cameras in general have limitations. The idea that if you watch the video you will be able to see exactly what happened isnt even remotely the case. Cameras can provide more information but certainly not all the information. Heres a list of some of those limitations. 1. Cameras dont follow your eyes or see as you see. If you glance sideways the camera may not pick up what you are looking at or you may not see whats clearly in view on the camera. Additionally, during high stress situations you may become very narrowly focused and not see what is clearly in view of the camera. Tunnel vision. 2. Small cues cant be recorded. Many time when reviewing DUI arrests the clues officers look for and are clearly apparent at the time arrest dont show up or dont show up as clearly on video. Additionally, you cant see a subject tense up but you certainly can feel it when youre are searching a subject. Its also extremely difficult to see where a suspects eyes are on video. Many times before a suspect runs their eyes glance all around. Many time before a suspect assaults a police officer he glances at his weapon. 3. Camera speed differs from real life speed. Because of a reactionary curve the officer can be a half second or more behind the action as it unfolds on the screen. 4. Cameras may see better in low light or not at all. Some cameras now are able to pick up low light footage better than what the naked eye sees. On the other hand, going suddenly from bright to dim or vice versa a camera may blank out images all together. 5. Your body may block the view. Depending on where the camera is mounted your arms or hands may block the view if they are extended. 6. Cameras only record in 2 D. Video doesnt allow for the same depth perception. Objects in video recordings and pictures always seem further than they actually are. Without proper sense of depth viewers may misinterpret the level of threat an officer was facing. 7. One camera may not be enough. Perspective from one angle is not the same from another. Angle, lighting, and other factors may show an entirely different view. A prime example of this is when a football coach challenge the ruling on the field. Sometimes one angle gives you a clear picture when the 3 or 4 others didnt. This is why you may have 3 or 4 officers at a scene and only one shoots. Perspective is everything. 8. Cameras encourage second guessing. According to the U.S. Supreme Court in Graham v. Connor, an officers decisions in tense, uncertain, and rapidly evolving situations are not to be judged with 20/20 vision in hindsight. In calm and comfortable conditions its easy to replay the footage, over and over, and scrutinize it for hard to see detail. Its also much easier to know how things play out and then go back and point out what you would have done differently after the fact. An example might be watching a football game. Sitting at home or in the stands you can clearly see an receiver wide open down the field. Unfortunately, the quarterback never does because he has a completely different perspective and feels pressure that you arent. Everybody at home and in the stands criticizes the quarterback for being incompetent because he didnt throw to a wide open receiver. Certainly he didnt do it on purpose. 9. Cameras never can replace a thorough investigation. Cameras should never be regarded as the sole truth about an incident. 10. What happens when the camera doesnt record? Cameras like other equipment break down particularly because their life is spent bouncing around inside a cruise. Buttons to activate cameras wear out. What happens when a camera malfunctions and/or doesnt record because the officer didnt turn it on? Will the police be accused of hiding evidence. Certainly. Additionally, during high stress situations or sudden action officers may not hit the record button at all. Of course defense attorneys will state isnt it policy to turn your camera on but during some instances an officers mind can focus on something else and they never hit the button. The incident in Ferguson is a prime example. An officer pull up and asks two subjects to move out of the road. Suddenly one reaches into the cruiser and a struggle ensues. I can tell you the last thing on a officers mind is remembering to turn on a camera. Can body cameras help improve relations between police departments and the public? Certainly. Are they a fix all? Absolutely not. Cameras have a place but may cause just as many problems as they solve.
Posted on: Mon, 12 Jan 2015 15:35:10 +0000
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