Rebuilding Trust through Body-worn Cameras
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Date
2018
Authors
LeCroy, Kirk
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas (LEMIT)
Abstract
Description
A problem in today’s society involves the relationship between law enforcement and the community it serves. In some communities, a police officer’s word is not considered truthful without supporting audio and video evidence. The recent deaths by law enforcement of unarmed black males in New York City, Ferguson, and Tulsa have reinforced the necessity of body-worn cameras (BWCs). Civilization cannot stand in defense of itself, therefore it is dependent on good and decent people to serve by standing guard on the front lines, hence the police (Delattre, 2011). Due to the erosion of public trust, these officers are tasked with proving they still possess good character, have high morals, and are ethical.
The public demands transparency and training regimens that focus on de-escalation to reduce use of force incidents and on implicit bias, procedural justice, and the use of technology such as BWCs are needed to improve outcomes and rebuild community trust (The President’s Task Force on 21st, 2015). Trust between the community and law enforcement is essential in the development of a positive relationship. BWCs can help strengthen the police profession by promoting accountability and transparency, improve training, document evidence, and record contacts with the public (U.S. Department of Justice, 2014). Once the belief that police cameras are routinely recording, it has been assumed that everyone will be on their best behavior, be it the police and the public. Law enforcement should use body-worn cameras in order to rebuild public trust through transparency.
Keywords
Police Community relations, Wearable Video devices in police work