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Your Thoughts on LAPD use of Body Worn Video

since9

Campaign Veteran
Joined
Jan 14, 2010
Messages
6,964
Location
Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
The LAPD is considering/reviewing mandatory use of body cams for all its officers. There's been a drastic reduction in complaints against officers in other jurisdictions. This is in part because fraudulent complaints would no longer have any teeth, and in part because police officers themselves know they're being videotaped, and they know they'd never get away with anything criminal.

It's a survey, and they're seeking your input.

Admins/mods: As the LAPD's implementation will undoubtedly influence the way other municipalities throughout the nation implement their own systems, please do not pigeon-hole this into the California section.

It affects all of us, particularly those of us who open carry (visible by the body cam), so please keep this in the News and Political Alerts section. Thanks.

Take the survey!
 

since9

Campaign Veteran
Joined
Jan 14, 2010
Messages
6,964
Location
Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
Having taken the survey, here are my thoughts:

Should be of sufficient resolution and stability to show minute details.

Need to be made available to anyone with a legitimate need. News media has no legitimate need. Protect the rights and privacy of anyone who may be innocent.

Records should be kept in accordance with federal records law, unless anyone can show legitimate reason to keep it longer.
 

Primus

Regular Member
Joined
Oct 24, 2013
Messages
3,939
Location
United States
Having taken the survey, here are my thoughts:

Should be of sufficient resolution and stability to show minute details.

Need to be made available to anyone with a legitimate need. News media has no legitimate need. Protect the rights and privacy of anyone who may be innocent.

Records should be kept in accordance with federal records law, unless anyone can show legitimate reason to keep it longer.
I'm for body cameras. But who's going to pay for the initial cost and upkeep?

For example, I only get 100rds per year to practice shooting at the range on my own time. I then spend 1 paid day of training to qualify and go through some drills under actual instruction and supervision. We don't get more ammo and/or more instruction because there's no money.

This has been the concern amongst some coworkers. Who's going to foot the bill?
 

skidmark

Campaign Veteran
Joined
Jan 15, 2007
Messages
10,444
Location
Valhalla
Body cams are like "No Guns" signs - useful until something goes wrong.

Body cams, even if mounted on the top or temple of the cop still do not capture the whole picture, and as soon as arms are extended a major portion of the picture is obscured. Just look at some of the videos posted by mountain bikers, skateboarders, and those folks who fly in squirrel suits down the sides of mountains until they chicken out and open a parachute - then start swiveling that camera from side to side.

But worse yet, juries are going to believe that body-cam video is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth - all three.

There's a video making the rounds of a cop being shot by some guy with a .22 6-shooter. Look at it and tell me precisely what happened. Can't do that? Why not? (Because the camera was not square to the shooter and the angle was not parallel to the ground.)

In spite of all that, body cameras change the perceptions and therefore the behavior of folks on either side of the badge.

stay safe.
 

Primus

Regular Member
Joined
Oct 24, 2013
Messages
3,939
Location
United States
Body cams are like "No Guns" signs - useful until something goes wrong.

Body cams, even if mounted on the top or temple of the cop still do not capture the whole picture, and as soon as arms are extended a major portion of the picture is obscured. Just look at some of the videos posted by mountain bikers, skateboarders, and those folks who fly in squirrel suits down the sides of mountains until they chicken out and open a parachute - then start swiveling that camera from side to side.

But worse yet, juries are going to believe that body-cam video is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth - all three.

There's a video making the rounds of a cop being shot by some guy with a .22 6-shooter. Look at it and tell me precisely what happened. Can't do that? Why not? (Because the camera was not square to the shooter and the angle was not parallel to the ground.)

In spite of all that, body cameras change the perceptions and therefore the behavior of folks on either side of the badge.

stay safe.
Well said +1
 

davidmcbeth

Banned
Joined
Jan 14, 2012
Messages
16,167
Location
earth's crust
Having taken the survey, here are my thoughts:

Should be of sufficient resolution and stability to show minute details.

Need to be made available to anyone with a legitimate need. News media has no legitimate need. Protect the rights and privacy of anyone who may be innocent.

Records should be kept in accordance with federal records law, unless anyone can show legitimate reason to keep it longer.

Disagree with "privacy" concerns .... all gov't records should be open. Fed. records laws? huh? Talking about state records.

The public knowing what state employees do is a legitimate need enough. No redaction (this would delay a records response to a forever time frame)...

If approved/mandatory.
 
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