I just read that police in Duluth are now outfitted with cameras to record all interactions with the public. KSTP News reports…
Duluth Police officers are now able to record any interactions they have with the public because each one of them has been assigned a body camera.
On Thursday, the small black square that hooks onto the officers’ shirts became a standard part of their uniforms. The goal is to cut down on investigation times and costs when there are complaints about officers.
The video is uploaded at the end of each shift, but the department will not be randomly viewing it. Officers have been trained to hit record before any interaction with people, like traffic stops and interviews, because it doesn’t record constantly.
Now I don’t know how I feel about recording every interaction. Will it help keep people honest? Or will it be used to create a database of anyone ever stopped? But I do wonder why they don’t just automatically upload the video rather than turn it off and on and wait to the end of the shift to upload. If you’re going to have people spot check video it seems like spot checking in real time might help prevent incident – whereas spot checking after is pure forensics.
The spot checkers could work a little like the virtual ICU nurses keeping an eye out to make sure everything is running smoothly – and step in to offer assistance when things aren’t.
There are many reasons to not record every interaction with the police (or upload them in real time), here are a few:
1) Police officers are commonly at medical emergencies and would likely record protected patient/HIPPA information. Broadcasting that live would likely generate a well deserved lawsuit;
2) Police often deal with dreadful situations. Sometimes planned, sometimes not. I wouldn’t want to see people grieving over news of a loved ones death streamed over the internet. But, I’m sure there are scumbags that would enjoy it, record it, and use it inappropriately;
3) It would greatly reduce people’s willingness to talk to the police and result in fewer solved crimes. Are you going to “rat out” a bad guy if you know that there may be a video of it online? Fear of retribution keeps many people quiet.
I agree with so many of your points. BUT I do feel like if you’re going to record some sessions, record all of them. The question becomes who decides what goes into public record or even closed records but I like the check and balance of recording everything *if* you are going to record any of it.
That being said, I’m not sold on the idea of recording any of it!