Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

SoylentNews is people

posted by Fnord666 on Tuesday June 13 2017, @09:44PM   Printer-friendly
from the when-graft-happens dept.

The Associated Press reports that despite the rapid adoption of body cameras in major cities, policies do not typically require mandatory use of body cameras during uniformed "off-duty" side jobs:

When police officers in America's cities put on their uniforms and grab their weapons before moonlighting in security jobs at nightclubs, hospitals, and ballparks, there's one piece of equipment they often leave behind - their body camera. That's because most police agencies that make the cameras mandatory for patrol shifts don't require or won't allow body cameras for off-duty officers even if they're working in uniform, leaving a hole in policies designed to increase oversight and restore confidence in law enforcement.

Police departments contend that they have only a limited number of body cameras or that there are too many logistical hurdles and costs involved. But that argument doesn't sit well with those who say it shouldn't matter whether an officer is on patrol or moonlighting at a shopping mall. "As long as they have real bullets, they need to have the body cameras," said John Barnett, a civil rights leader in Charlotte, North Carolina, where shootings involving police have put use of the cameras under scrutiny.

An Associated Press survey of the 20 biggest U.S. cities found that nearly all have officers wearing or testing body cameras, but that only five - Houston; San Antonio; San Francisco; Fort Worth, Texas; and San Jose, California - have rules requiring them for uniformed officers working outside their regular hours.

Of course, even mandatory body camera policies are not perfect:

Houston's new Chief of Police Art Acevedo pledged to make some changes to the department's body-camera program after a KHOU investigation revealed it has fallen short of its promises. [...] "I want to make it very clear to our men and women that if they have a critical incident and they don't have that thing on, and without excuse or justification, they're going to have some significant consequences," Acevedo said.

That warning comes after KHOU 11 Investigates discovered several problems in the early months of HPD's body-camera program. The Harris County District Attorney's office identified more than 700 cases with missing or unaccounted body-camera video.


Original Submission

 
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
Display Options Threshold/Breakthrough Mark All as Read Mark All as Unread
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
  • (Score: 2) by sjames on Wednesday June 14 2017, @02:28AM (2 children)

    by sjames (2882) on Wednesday June 14 2017, @02:28AM (#525224) Journal

    In many cases, the police response to inquiries itself creates the problem. White cop shoots black criminal for good reason. Community asks what that reason is, cops circle the wagons and break out the sand bags. Community concludes based on that that the reason must not be very good...

    Starting Score:    1  point
    Karma-Bonus Modifier   +1  

    Total Score:   2  
  • (Score: 2) by Entropy on Wednesday June 14 2017, @07:42AM (1 child)

    by Entropy (4228) on Wednesday June 14 2017, @07:42AM (#525323)

    Are they even allowed to give evidence on an active case to the public? I honestly don't know the answer. I seem to recall someone/everyone not being allowed to do that, but I really can't find a easy source.

    • (Score: 2) by sjames on Wednesday June 14 2017, @10:09AM

      by sjames (2882) on Wednesday June 14 2017, @10:09AM (#525353) Journal

      I don't suggest they give out evidence. Just use neutral terms like we're investigating or some such rather than starting with immediate denials that make it sound like there won't be an investigation.