New Haven Police Kickoff Body Camera Training

NEW HAVEN, CT - From the New Haven Police Department: After much planning, researching and negotiations, the New Haven Police Department will begin training its officers on the functions and uses of its acquired body-camera system. Training begins this Wednesday.

Police worn body-cameras are meant to increase accountability, transparency and trust. We hope they very well will.

As a general rule of thumb, people tend to behave better when they know they’re being recorded. But that’s not to say this is just a check on police behavior. Citizens who know they are being filmed are less likely to act
aggressively as well, as the video removes any opportunity for disputing their behavior.

Results from agencies using body cameras appear to be positive. There are benefits to investigations, evidence recordings and those of having an always present lens-witness to what the officer sees when arriving at the scene of a crime or complaint. Departments that already use such systems have found that the cameras led to a significant decrease in officer complaints as well as a similar reduction in use of force.

This drop in complaints can also lead to a substantial decrease in the time and resources devoted to investigating complaints and resolving civil litigation. These cameras could also present an opportunity for police departments to highlight the everyday good officers do as well as give the public a better idea of what the day to day life of a police officer is really like.

One thing is certain – the question as to how often will a body-camera recording misrepresent what actually occurs might be the easiest to answer; never. That is one of the primary benefits of this technology.

Image via Unsplash