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from the eye-think-we-are-being-watched dept.
A pilot program was scheduled to start last week. But after no officers volunteered, Commissioner William Evans ordered 100 officers to wear the cameras. That prompted the Boston Police Patrolmen's Association to ask a judge to issue an injunction to halt the program until a new agreement can be negotiated.
Union President Patrick Rose testified Tuesday that the city violated its agreement with the union when Evans assigned officers to what was supposed to be an all-volunteer program. Rose acknowledged that he told members not to volunteer for the program before the union had reached an agreement with the city.
[...] Evans said he wants the program to begin next week and believes it's within his authority as police commissioner to order officers to wear the cameras.
No word on whether or not the Commissioner volunteered to wear a camera.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 08 2016, @03:54PM
The commissioner was convinced of the program because a video of an officer shooting someone showed that the officer had cause. Video can also protect "good" cops from controversy.
If that is his reasoning, he shouldn't be commissioner because he's got no clue how things currently work.
99% of the time cops are protected anyway, even when they are in the wrong. There is no value to any individual officer in having an official record that, at best, is going to produce the same result and at worst might get them in trouble.
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Thursday September 08 2016, @05:13PM
"serve and protect", remember?
If the cop and the person of interest both know that they are being recorded, exchanges are a lot more likely to be civilized. It helps avoid incidents, rather than have to clean them up.
(Score: 2) by TheGratefulNet on Thursday September 08 2016, @06:09PM
serve and protect - that's a tv tag line but who does it apply to?
not you and I but the ruling class. the cops have no duty to protect you and I; it was 'decided' by courts not too long ago. a cop usually comes by LATER ON to clean up the mess but not to stop problems or prevent problems. and if you are in danger, they have no obligation to help you or protect you. its not their job, no matter what tv shows want to say about it.
"It is now safe to switch off your computer."
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 08 2016, @06:35PM
(a) That's not what the commissioner is reported to have said
(b) I doubt it works that way in practice. The cops who are assholes think they are justified in being assholes, and when you think you are right then you think you've got nothing to hide. As for anyone else being on camera, people who lose their shit in front of a cop aren't thinking long term in the first place. If they even notice the camera they probably won't care.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday September 09 2016, @06:33AM
Police body cams work to the benefit [policechiefmagazine.org] of the officers [texascjc.org] as well as the public [times-standard.com].