State Viewpoint: Body cameras protect public, officers.
I relate to police officers’ resistance to wearing body cameras. Being a law enforcement officer is an emotionally difficult, dangerous and mostly thankless job. Changes to our regular procedure could put us — and the community — at incredible risk. But I support the use of bodyworn cameras by police officers because, when used properly, the devices protect both those of us in uniform and those with whom we interact on a daily basis.
While sheriff of Flagler County, I wanted my officers to be on the cutting edge of police practices and technology. In 2012, I heard the Daytona Police Department had begun to use body cameras with positive results. Under my leadership, our department was one of the first sheriff ’s offices in Florida to begin using body cameras.
There was an adjustment period, of course, but we ultimately benefited. We were able to obtain evidence we could use against dangerous criminals and gain insight into how civilians and officers interact with each other every day. Though I understand why officers are concerned cameras could make their jobs more difficult, my own experience has shown me otherwise. This is backed up by preliminary research that shows body cameras reduce complaints against officers, saving hours of paperwork and administrative hassle.
For instance, body cameras exonerated officers for an incident that occurred in Daytona Beach in which a SWAT team entered an apartment where a former NFL player was holding a knife to his girlfriend’s throat. The body camera footage showed the officers shouting at the assailant to drop the knife. Instead, he began to plunge the knife into his girlfriend’s throat. The officers shot but did not kill the suspect. The body camera video was quickly released — and they avoided what could have been a confusing and sensationalist media story.
While I was sheriff, I received a phone call from a well-respected man in my community who was upset with how some of my deputies had treated him during a traffic stop. Within 10 minutes, I could review a recording of the stop. It was clear that the two deputies had properly stopped the vehicle, and had acted with great restraint as the driver repeatedly threatened and yelled at them. The deputies with their calm demeanor explained the reason for the stop. They did not issue a ticket, but merely explained that the corner where the man had illegally turned was close to a school crossing, and the turn posed a threat to children.
I asked the complaining driver to review the video with me. Afterward, the gentleman was apologetic after realizing he was the person who had been disrespectful — not the deputies. He was retired from law enforcement and became an advocate for body cameras, too, after this incident.
Of course, body cameras, like all equipment available to police, must be used appropriately to maximize everyone’s safety and ensure privacy rights are respected. But with proper oversight and regulation, body cameras can be an indispensable crime-fighting tool that can and should be used by all police departments.