Use of force DROPS DRAMATICALLY when police forced to wear cameras.

No wonder they hate when we film them; they can't get away with kicking our teeth in for no good reason anymore and get away with it.

A police department recently bought some officer mounted cameras and decided to perform an experiment. They only had half the shift wear the cameras at any time to see how the officers would behave with and without the surveillance. The cops with the cameras had a dramatic decrease in use of force while those wihout were found to be TWICE as likely to use force in the course of their duties.

Rialto, CA Police Made to Wear Cameras, Use of Force Drops by Over Two-Thirds

When cops in a Rialto, California were forced to wear cameras, their use of force dropped by over two-thirds. Additionally, the officers who were not made to wear the cameras used force twice as much as those who did. This strongly suggests the majority of the time police use force is unnecessary. In other words, the majority of the time these officers used force they were simply committing acts of violence which they don't feel comfortable committing if it's captured on film.

A convenient feature of the camera is its "pre-event video buffer," which continuously records and holds the most recent 30 seconds of video when the camera is off. In this way, the initial activity that prompts the officer to turn on the camera is more likely to be captured automatically, too.

THE Rialto study began in February 2012 and will run until this July. The results from the first 12 months are striking. Even with only half of the 54 uniformed patrol officers wearing cameras at any given time, the department over all had an 88 percent decline in the number of complaints filed against officers, compared with the 12 months before the study, to 3 from 24.

Rialto's police officers also used force nearly 60 percent less often -- in 25 instances, compared with 61. When force was used, it was twice as likely to have been applied by the officers who weren't wearing cameras during that shift, the study found. And, lest skeptics think that the officers with cameras are selective about which encounters they record, Mr. Farrar noted that those officers who apply force while wearing a camera have always captured the incident on video.

Informationliberation

I'm sure that even the officers who weren't wearing the cameras watched what they did because they never knew if their backup might be wearing one. Like they always remind us "if you're not doing anything wrong, you have no reason to complain".

Seems the cops in this department, at least, fear that they might get caught doing something wrong while wearing the cameras and cleaned up their act. If only we could make these mandatory for all departments, maybe we could get some accountability in law enforcement.

Nothing like the fear of getting caught to get a dirty cop to clean up his act.

I'm in. Lets have a bake sale to buy our local PDs cameras that they HAVE to wear.
Make the world a less skull crackety place to live

While good news, my questions stem from the following: was appropriate use of force abated because of the cameras? Did officers who were forced to wear them, feel they should "hold back" in fear of such a study as this? While the use of force should be the very last option of any person, including officers, did this modify behavior badly?

reply to post by FortAnthem


This could also mean that 88% were false complaints which were deterred because of the recordings.

Oh, wait this is ATS! We have to assume all law enforcement are in league with Satan.

reply to post by Wertdagf


Yeah because the people knew they would have cameras to record their lies when they called them didn't they? Why would anybody want to contract with a LEO over a false matter in the first place?

Stupid point is stupid and irrelevant.

reply to post by VeritasAequitas


The point isn't that off. Think about it, when an officer responds to what they have thought to be 'bogus' or trivial, they can respond and extort 'victims' at will when no one is watching.

On the other hand, if they know their actions are watched, why respond to what amounts to a false or bogus call; experience wins.

Originally posted by Wertdagf
This could also mean that 88% were false complaints which were deterred because of the recordings.
Oh, wait this is ATS! We have to assume all law enforcement are in league with Satan.

More likely it stops the sarcastic remarks that police use to push people into a confrontation with them. They are experts are being smug smart asses when they think they can get away with it. Wearing these forces them to treat everyone with an amount of professional courtesy, common decency, and politeness.

It's clear when people know they're on camera, their behavior changes dramatically. It not only applies to police officers, but also people in other professions. People will think twice before doing anything that will compromise them from losing their job.

In the protective services profession such as the police, it's a necessity because they have the power to maim or kill a person. Not to mention, they can easily ignore the constitutional rights of its citizens. Every police department in the country should be required to wear cameras. It not only protects the officer by recording evidence that can be used in a court of law, but it also protects the citizens from police officers who abuse their power.

Originally posted by FortAnthem
A police department recently bought some officer mounted cameras and decided to perform an experiment. They only had half the shift wear the cameras at any time to see how the officers would behave with and without the surveillance. The cops with the cameras had a dramatic decrease in use of force while those wihout were found to be TWICE as likely to use force in the course of their duties.

It would be my guess that the ratio is even higher than 2 to 1. From first hand experience, installing cameras and mics in the car absolutely changes the way I drive. I find myself thinking, could I publicly defend my driving performance?

It's even more interesting when I document cops tailgating, passing against the center line, not using turn signals, etc. Some of these cops are the worst drivers around. Their being on a power trip only makes it worse.

Originally posted by WeRpeons
In the protective services profession such as the police, it's a necessity because they have the power to maim or kill a person. Not to mention, they can easily ignore the constitutional rights of its citizens. Every police department in the country should be required to wear cameras. It not only protects the officer by recording evidence that can be used in a court of law, but it also protects the citizens from police officers who abuse their power.

Absolutely, positively agreed.

After every single police officer is cammed, we need to cam every single state and federal politician.

Originally posted by Wertdagf

This could also mean that 88% were false complaints which were deterred because of the recordings.

Oh, wait this is ATS! We have to assume all law enforcement are in league with Satan.

Assume nothing.

Our politicians could not get away with their blatantly illegal conduct if they were not being served-and-protected by these evil b**tards.

Well, for once, surveillance that I can agree on. The police are acting on behalf of the public, so their actions should be a matter of public record. I say, cameras for all! And turning one off at any time besides breaks, should be penalized by a 3 day suspension without pay.

I wonder if they will use this in the stop and frisk areas. Yeah right...

Originally posted by Wertdagf
Oh, wait this is ATS! We have to assume all law enforcement are in league with Satan.

Ha. If they were just in league with Satan, it wouldn't be all that bad. But instead they are in league with beyond-evil politicians. That makes them far worse.

Clearly, the cameras got rid of both Satan AND the politicians. I swear, the excuses some people come up with. :shk:

And good thread, FA. S&F for joo.

Originally posted by TrueAmerican

Originally posted by Wertdagf
Oh, wait this is ATS! We have to assume all law enforcement are in league with Satan.

Ha. If they were just in league with Satan, it wouldn't be all that bad. But instead they are in league with beyond-evil politicians. That makes them far worse.

Clearly, the cameras got rid of both Satan AND the politicians. I swear, the excuses some people come up with. :shk:

edit on Thu Aug 15th 2013 by TrueAmerican because: (no reason given)

Well you do know that Obama is the devil.

This brings up another idea! Video cams for ALL public officials including politicians! Hey Obama you wanted surveillance now you got it! I have a chic name for his, Obama Tube. This could give a whole new name to "flipping" channels.

It is amazing the effect true accountability will have on the actions of people. Without the option of lying to hide your true actions you are forced to actually follow the rules and laws you agreed to.

IMO Everybody in any kind of public service position should have to be 100% accountable with zero opportunity to lie, it would drastically change the country for the better.

DC

Originally posted by Wertdagf
reply to post by FortAnthem

 

This could also mean that 88% were false complaints which were deterred because of the recordings.

Oh, wait this is ATS! We have to assume all law enforcement are in league with Satan.

I was actually thinking along similar lines. If not false complaints, then outright dumb behavior that would otherwise have happened, making police response necessary ..if not for the cameras the bad guys can see too. Unless killing the cop to get the recording is the plan (and is the recording even on the cop or sent to the car?) then anything stupid will be the main exhibit at a very short trial and enough people a cop comes into regular contact with would know that, too.

That would be as much a deterrence to anyone who had been into the system before as it would be the cop who doesn't need his own stupid moves on tape, IMO.

Wouldn't doubt one bit, with that and related incidents lately, that them being recorded drops force. Cops in thread I am sharing, got a real taste of cameras. They have a "hobby" interest in covering up animal abuse because they support it and picking on those who feel concern for it. Their corruption was in place, until compromised because they were caught on dash camera by their own mistake. Aww, too bad, now they need to be brought to justice. Oregon Deputies Caught on Dash Cam Acknowledging Illegal Traffic Stop, - www.abovetopsecret.com...

reply to post by ownbestenemy


The cops may use better judgement and not abuse their badge; but he was being sarcastic...He was really mocking the article, saying it was due to false calls from the citizens.

Not surprising.
This should be a hint to everyone that use of force will rise again if they take our guns away from us.

Ah yes...

The playing field has been leveled - now we're all to be subjugated to our eternally watching, collecting & judging masters...

Onward to the bright & shimmering future...

ETA: Don't get me wrong - I'm all for this (seriously needed accountability) - Simply paying homage to our all powerful overlords and how wonderfully cunning & manipulative they've been (and just in case you aren't catching the tone...this entire post is dripping with sarcasm)

I say every single officer on duty should have one and be required
to wear it, plain and simple, this could fix the problems with many
issues, planting evidence, abuse of force, bad cops, on and on.

There is no reason not to do this other than monetary and their
desire to continue abuses. I cant even think of a situation that
wouldn't be better for having an officers perspective on film, think
about this, in court we would get hard facts, not an officers
word when we already know they will protect other officers even
if it means breaking the law.......

WE SO NEED THIS.