Body-worn cameras (BWCs) are rapidly becoming a standard piece of equipment for law enforcement agencies across the United States. In response to calls for increased transparency and accountability, the Boston Police Department (BPD) implemented a body-worn camera policy in 2016. This policy outlines the use and management of BWCs by BPD officers and has had a significant impact on policing practices and the public's perception of the police. In this blog post, we will discuss the key components of the BPD's body-worn camera policy, its benefits, and its challenges.

Policy Overview

The BPD's body-worn camera policy, in line with the recommendations set forth by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), aims to enhance transparency, increase police accountability, and improve community trust. The policy requires officers to wear cameras that record both audio and video while on-duty, with certain exceptions. Officers need to activate their cameras during specific encounters with the public such as traffic stops, arrests, pursuits, and other interactions that might result in complaints or use of force.

There are some exceptions to this requirement, depending on the situation and the need to protect the privacy of individuals involved. For example, officers should not record the conversations of minors, victims of crimes, or people in sensitive situations, such as informants, unless there is an overriding public interest. Officers also need to inform people that they are being recorded as soon as practical and before initiating any investigative questions.

BWC recordings are subject to thorough auditing by supervisors and command staff to ensure proper compliance with the policy. However, the recordings are treated as public records subject to existing state laws and may be disclosed in response to public records requests.

Benefits of the Policy

The implementation of the body-worn camera policy has yielded several notable benefits for the BPD and the public.

1. Increased Transparency:BWCs provide an objective account of officer-citizen interactions, which can help to dispel misconceptions and misunderstandings that may arise from conflicting accounts. By providing an accurate record of events, BWCs promote transparency and encourage public trust in the police.

2. Accountability:BWCs can serve as a tool to identify, address, and correct officer misconduct or performance issues. The recordings can serve as evidence of any misbehavior or deviation from department policies, prompting an investigation or disciplinary action when warranted.

3. Improved Evidence Collection:High-quality audio and video recordings from BWCs can be vital in documenting evidence in criminal investigations and prosecutions. Clear visual and audio recordings can capture nuances and details that may be essential in supporting or refuting testimony or other forms of evidence.

4. Officer Safety and Training:BWCs can be used as a training tool for officers, allowing them to review their interactions with the public to evaluate and improve their communication and de-escalation tactics. BWC footage can also serve as a valuable resource in analyzing critical incidents to identify patterns, factors, or trends that could improve officer safety.

5. Reduced Complaints and Use of Force Incidents:Studies have shown that the use of body-worn cameras can lead to reductions in citizen complaints against officers, as well as a decrease in the use of force incidents.

Challenges

While the body-worn camera policy has yielded significant benefits, there remain several challenges that need to be addressed:

1. Privacy Concerns:BWCs raise concerns about the privacy of both officers and the public. Officers must be mindful of respecting the privacy of individuals in sensitive situations, and the department must navigate the delicate balance between transparency and protecting citizens' privacy rights when releasing BWC recordings.

2. Cost and Maintenance:BWCs require significant financial and personnel resources for implementation, maintenance, data storage, and management. For a large department like BPD, these costs can be substantial and place a strain on the budget.

3. Technology Limitations:BWCs can sometimes fail to capture crucial moments or important details due to technical issues, such as poor video or audio quality, obstructed views, or equipment malfunctions. These issues may limit the effectiveness of BWCs as an evidentiary tool.

4. Policy Compliance and Training:Ensuring officer compliance with the body-worn camera policy can be difficult. Proper training, supervision, and consistent enforcement of the policy are essential to realizing its full potential.

Overall, the implementation of Boston's police body-worn camera policy is an important step toward improving transparency, accountability, and trust between the police and the communities they serve. While there are challenges that need to be addressed, the benefits of using BWCs serve as a strong foundation for a more effective and accountable law enforcement system. The BPD's commitment to adapting and refining this policy to best serve the interests of both the public and its officers is crucial to fostering better relationships within the community.