Building Trust through Transparency

Building Trust through Transparency

Protecting citizens and police by using body camera video

  • By Jason Dombkowski
  • Apr 01, 2022

With social media rapidly evolving, the call for transparency and accountability inside a law enforcement agency is now necessary to show the world what police do with every interaction. And while there are general overarching guidelines, each agency has its policies—making it tricky for individual police monitoring to know they are consistently and correctly following protocols.
 
For example, some, but not all, agencies require police officers to record every time they step out of their vehicle. And the burden of hitting record and holding the camera steady falls onto each officer. Fortunately, today's technology now enables cameras to turn on automatically and be steadily held inside uniforms, which is imperative today.

Why ask officers to give up precious time during an encounter when technology can take that off their plates? Ultimately, the time saved maneuvering cameras will never be as measurable as the assurance police officers and citizens feel knowing that every instance is being recorded for later review.
 
How Can Filming Help a Citizen? 
Most citizens feel at ease knowing that conversations with officers are being recorded, because it provides transparency and builds trust within a community.

According to the Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Services and Police Executive Research Forum, "video footage should be made available to the public upon request—not only because the videos are public records but also because doing so enables police departments to demonstrate transparency and openness in their interactions with members of the community."1
 
The community an agency protects is essential when considering body camera policies. Each jurisdiction is different; therefore, every agency should adapt its approach to its needs and standards. The emergence of new technology and innovative solutions make it easier than ever for police to protect the citizens in their community. 
 
In this country, by consent of the public—police serve the people. It creates a bond between law enforcement and the community. Body cameras strengthens relationships in a time when we need it most.
 
How Can Filming Help the Police Officer? 
Many times, officers receive disingenuous citizen complaints of acting unprofessionally or with excessive use-of-force. Video acts as a safety net and exonerates upstanding police officers immediately for criminal complaints or accusations. In fact, a study conducted with the Rialto Police Department showed that citizen complaints were reduced by 87.5% following the agency’s implementation of a body worn camera program.2

Advanced video technology gives peace of mind and an unbiased record of every police and citizen encounter. Video recorded from police body cameras can also effectively train officers on how to perform during stressful encounters. Real incidents can be watched and discussed—what is done right, what is done wrong and what needs improvement in the future. 

When Should Body Camera Filming Not Be Used?
It is true; not every police encounter should be filmed, depending on state and local laws. For example, video is often not permitted inside hospital emergency rooms or some private residences. Some cases call for only voice recordings—when speaking to sexual assault victims or when police talk to each other about tactical situations to protect victims or plans during a hostage situation.
 
We are living in interesting times when it is necessary to bridge the gap between social issues and the evolution of policing in America. Forward-thinking agencies should be encouraged to seek out “best in class” technologies to meet the needs of this progression.

1 Source: (What to Consider When Creating a Body Camera Policy?)

2 Source: Manning & Kass, Ellrod, Ramirez, Trester LLP

This article originally appeared in the April 2022 issue of Security Today.

About the Author

Jason Dombkowski was the chief of police in West Lafayette, IN. He is a Department of Justice body-worn cameras subject matter expert.

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