CST373

ETHICSANDCURRENTISSUES:
InCommunicationScienceandTechnology
Fall2015

Assignment3:TeamledseminarandeDebate

TopicD:UsingTechnologyToCounterPoliceMistrust

By:SeanSabour,StephanieBarnard,JoseMartinez,ThachDang,AdamKinmont


THEPROBLEMDEFINITION
ThecontroversialissueoverpoliceofficerswearingbodycamerasintheU.S.isledbypublic
mistrustsurfacingineverystate.Lawenforcementhasbeenthefocusofroutinestopsquickly
escalatingintoaltercationandshootingwithpoliceofficers.Manyeyewitnesseshavebeen
quicktocapturevideorecordingsofpeoplebeingdetained,beatenorshotbecauseofover
excessiveforce.Thenationislookingforclarityandjustificationatthestartofascene,sothat
theseincidentscanbetranslated.Butmaybeweshouldconsiderthatpoliceofficershavebeen
videorecordedbythirdpartiesinthepastandthoserecordingshavemadethingsworse.
Dependingonwherethecameraismounted(chestorhead)thecamerasperspectivewillbe
differentfromtheofficers.Anythingnotdirectlyinfrontofthecameraisoutofview.Cameras
lacktheperipheralvisionunlesstheyuseperspectivedistortingfisheyelens.Inwhichcase
makesthevideorenderitselfalmostuseless.Themostsignificantdrawbackistheperception
that,ifitdidntrecord,itwasnthowithappened.Officersaresworntoprotectandtouphold
theirownintegrity.Ifthevideodocumentationistheonlywayforofficerstohavecredibility
whengivingtestimony,thenthesystembeginstofail.
Toomanyuncertaintiescanarisewithequipmentfailureregardlessofwhatthemanufacturer
says.Acameracanbedefective,batterydefect,radiofrequencyinterfereswiththewireless
link.Allofthisiscapableofhappeninginthemostcriticalmomentatthescene.
Officerswillresponsibleforturningonandoffthecamerabecauseitcannotbeconstantly
recording.Datastoragerequirementswillbecomeunmanageableandtooexpensive.Havingto
siftthroughfootageandstorewhatisrelevantandcanbediscardedcanleadtootherlegal
disputes.
Whatmaybethemostconcerningissueovervideorecordingsfrombodycamerasmountedon
police,isthatitwillnotbemadeavailableforpublicrecordbyallpolicedepartments.Thiscan
becomeproblematicincourtsbecauseoferraticdisclosuresbetweenjurisdictionsandcases.

Historical&LegalContext
Whatisthehistoryofthisissue?Whatsocietal,economic,andtechnologicalfactorshave

affectedthecurrentissue?Whatcurrentlawsarebeingchallenged?

OnMarch31,1991,inLosAngeles,California,a25yearold,unarmedblackmanwas
brutallybeatenby4policeofficers.Thiseventtookitsplaceinhistorywhenabystander
videorecordedthewholeexchange.TheevidenceshowsLAPDtakingturnsmercilesslystriking
themanwithnightstickstohisface,back,legsandstomach,andstompingandkickinghimas
heheldonforhislife,tryingtofindthestrengthtogetupandmoveawayfromhisabusers.
Today,thismanisknownasoneMr.RodneyKing.Thevideowasbroadcastednationwideas
communitiesallovertheUnitedStatesviewedmoderndayracism.
Sincethen,technologyhasadvanced.Quickandaccessibleresourceshavemarkedthe
beginningofmassmedia.SmartphonesandiPhonesequippedwithvideoscamerashave
playedavitalroleinthediscoveringofauthorityinjustice.Peoplecannowrecordanythingon
theirsmartdevicesandshareitpubliclywithinminutes.Thisadvancementintechnologyhas
servedasevidencethathasbegunawiderangeoffightsandmovementsforjusticeand
changeinsociety.
Theproposedideahasbeenforpoliceofficerstoberequiredtowearbodycameras.
Thisideaisthatthepolicewillbemoremindfuloftheiractionsagainstciviliansandpotential
suspects.Itwouldalsochallengetherespectofprivacyofboththeofficerandthepersonin
questionaswellasthediscretionandvulgarityofthecontent.

Stakeholders
Thehistoryofthisissuehasaffectedseveralgroupsofpeoplebuthashadthelargest,
mosthorrifyingeffectonsocietyasawhole.Itimmediatelyaffectedminoritiesacrossthenation.
Especiallythoselivinginsmall,lowincomecommunitieswhereracismisaliveandactively
growing.Asmoreevidencewasrevealed,footageofpolicebrutalityandauthoritiesabusing
theirpowerspreadaroundtheinternetrapidlycreatingadiscomfortamongalliesofthe
mistreated.
Privacyisthelingeringconcern.Ifpoliceweretopotentiallyberequiredtowearbody
cameras,innocentbystanderscouldbeaffectedassumingpoliceareinstructedtoturntheir
camerasonduringanytrafficstop.Thatwouldincludeamanwhoisdrivingintoanelementary
schooltopickhischildupandfailedtosignalaturn.Iftheofficerturnsonhiscamerawhile
nearbytheschool,hecouldpotentiallycaptureimagesofchildrensfacesaswellasother
pedestrianscaughtinthelineofvisiononhiscamera.
Anotherstakeholderwouldbethevictimsorpotentialsuspectsthemselves.Manypolice
officershavebeentrainedonhowtoemotionallyandmentallycopewithsomeofthethingsthey
seeonthejob.However,someofthosethingsmaynotbesightsothersarecapableof
handling.Ifacrimesceneisvulgarandgruesome,thepoliceofficerwouldberevealingthe
privatecircumstanceofthevictimofthesceneormaybeeventhesuspect.
Policeofficerswouldalsobeaffectedsincetheywouldbewatchedconsistently
throughouttheirworkday.Dependingontheregulationsofwhichcircumstancetheyshouldbe
recording,thepoliceofficerneedstoagreetoandbecomfortablewithbeingwatched
throughouttheirday.

Investorsandtaxpayerswouldbefinanciallyaffected.Theywouldeitherbecharged
moremoneytocovertheexpensesofthebodycamerasorfundingtowardsschoolingandother
governmentaidswouldbecutback.

CompetitiveAnalysis:
Asbodycamerasbecomestandardforpoliceofficersatthousandsoflawenforcement
agenciesaroundthecountry,theyarewearingtinytechnologytorecordtheirinteractionswith
thepublic.However,thedeploymentsarerolledoutfasterthandepartmentsareabletocreate
policiestogoverntheiruse.Therefore,weareonlystartingtounderstandtheconsequencesof
whatitmeanstorecordeverything.Thefirstandmostimportantconcernistheprivacyofboth
thecitizensandpoliceofficers.Thosetinycameras,ifbeingused,areusuallyturnedonduring
officesshifts.Theycanberecordedeverysingleactioninabathroom,lockerroom,oreven
privateconversationsbetweenthem.Thosevideosmaybeusedtoagainsttheofficers.The
resultareseriousfortheofficersaswellaslosingpublicstrust.Inaddition,therearecertain
momentsthatofficersarecalledfordomesticviolence.Theyareseeingandcamerasare
recordingpeopleattheworstmomentsoftheirlives.Ortheyarecapturingaccidentvictimsin
carsastheyalreadydied.Ifthosevideosarenotstoredproperly,theymaybeenduponline
somewherelikeYouTubeorFacebook.Moreover,citizenswillnothelpofficersiftheyknowthey
arebeingrecorded.Thebestexamplewillbethevictimofasexualassaultorwitnessgiving
confidentialinformation.Theyfeeluncomfortablewhiletalkingtopoliceofficerswithbodyworn
cameras.Anotherconcernistechnology.Whatifthevideostorageishackedandeverythingis
postedonline.Itwillmakethevictimsorsuspectsbecomeembarrassingabouttheiractions.It
alsowillturnofficersintoanunintentionalpaparazzi.

Ouropponentsbelievethattherearemanyadvantagesiflawenforcementsusebody
worncameras.Itisthemutuallybeneficialforbothofficersandcitizens.Accordingtoa
nationwidesurveywhichwasconductedamong785federal,state,andlocalpolice
departments,itprovedthat86.4%respondentsagreedbodyworncamerascanreducefalse
claimsandlitigationwhileincreaseaccuracyandaccountability.Anotherstudyisobtainedin
Rialto,CaliforniabyDr.BarakArielhefoundthattheuseofforcewasreducedbyroughly50%.
Inaddition,complaintsagainstofficersdropped90%comparedtopreviousyear.Despite
negativeeffectsofbodyworncameratechnology,itisstillprovidingavaluabletoolforofficers
suchascapturingcriticalincidentsorencounterswithpublicandusingitasaliveevidence.
Therefore,thecamerasarebelievedaslargelyoutweighthepotentialdrawbacks.

"AreThereDownsidestoRequiringPolicetoWearCameras?"
SLATE.
N.p.,n.d.Web.
23Sept.2015.

<http://www.slate.com/blogs/quora/2015/06/05/
police_wearing_body_cameras_are_there_downsides.html>.

DougWyllie.
Survey:Policeofficerswantbodyworncameras

http://www.policeone.com/policeproducts/bodycameras/articles/6017774SurveyPolice
officerswantbodyworncameras/

MaggieYbarra.
Policebodycamerasraiseprivacyconcerns
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/may/12/policebodycamerasraiseprivacy
concerns/?page=all

MattPearce.
Growinguseofpolicebodycamerasraisesprivacyconcerns
http://www.latimes.com/nation/lanabodycameras20140927story.html

NealSimpson.
Policesaybodyworncamerasraisepracticalandlegalconcerns
http://www.patriotledger.com/article/20150820/NEWS/150816261

StavZiv
.StudyFindsBodyCamerasDecreasePolicesUseofForce
http://www.newsweek.com/amidstdebatestudyfindsbodycamerasdecreasepolicesu
seforce295315

EconomicFactors

Thereisalotofeconomicfactorsthatplayintoputtingbodycamerasonpolice
officers.Firstthereisthepurchasingofthecamerasthemselves.Thisinitial
costwillbeverylarge,InL.A.aloneitcost1.5Milliondollarstobuytheinitial860
camerasandthatsjustforLAPDthatsnotevencountingsheriffsorhighway
patrol,butthecostsdontendthere,Theresalsotherepaircosts.InL.A.alone
itwasestimatedthattherewouldbeSevenMilliondollarsinrepaircostsfor
thesecameraseveryyear.
AllthesestatisticsarejustforL.A.Ifweweretodothesebodycameras
forallthepoliceinCalifornia,thesepriceswouldbethrewtheroof.iftheserates
weretobeappliedtothe22,129Policeofficersin25majorcitiesinCaliforniait
wouldcostCalifornianearly39Milliondollars!
http://www.scpr.org/news/2015/03/30/50678/7mannualcostforlapdbody
cameras/
https://www.law.berkeley.edu/files/WI_Policing_Fact_Sheet_4.13.pdf


TechnologicalRestraints

Thecameracablemayaccidentlygettangledaroundanofficer,orpurposefullyinthecase
ofasuspectusingittochoke/restraintheofficer.

Intheeventofacloseproximitystrugglewithasuspect,thecameramaybecome
dislodgedandswingaround,impedingordistractingofficeractions.

Camerasarestationaryandnot360panning.Thiscausesconcernthatthecamerawillnot
adequatelycapturealltheelementsofanencounterthatcauseanofficertoreact.

Cameraspeeddiffersfromthespeedoflife:possiblethatsomethingasbriefasamuzzle
flashortheglintofaknifebladethatmaybecomeafactorinauseofforcecasecouldstill
failtoberecorded.

Camerasdonotalwaysdealwellwithlightingtransitions:bringingcamerasuddenlyfrom
brighttodimlightorviceversa,itmaybrieflyblankoutimages.

Commonerrorsfortechnologicaldevicesmaypreventproperfunctioningattimessuchas
deadbattery,damagedcomponents,orobstructedlens.

Therecordedvideosmustbestoredandmanagedinthecentralizedenvironments
thereforeitmaygetsecurityexploitsthroughdifferenttypesofattacks.

Recommendations(Whatcourseofactionshouldbetaken?Whatarethe
advantages,disadvantages,andpotentialconsequencesoftherecommended
actions?)
TostartthisoffIwanttoasksomequestionsraisedtoequippingourpolicewithbodycamsis:
1)whatthedefaultpresumptionshouldbewhenfootagehasgonemissingorisunusable?
2)Whoisthepropersourceoffundingofthisbodycamadoption?
3)Whetherpartieswhoarefilmedbythepolice,particularlyinintimateexchanges,havearightto
view(ordelete)thatfootage?
4)Whatthecontoursofpublicaccesstobodycamerafootageshouldbe?
Asyouhaveseenabove,toadoptthepolicetowearbodycamsinourcountrybringsupawide
varietyofchallengesforlawyersandpolicymakers.CasessuchasEricGarnersisagreatcasetolookatin
regardstohowpolicebodycamswillnotbenefitoursociety.Thefactthatthepresenceofacameraisatthe
scenedoesnotguaranteethattheofficerswillcontroltheiruseofforceormeaningfuljusticewillbeserved.
Someexamplesofanothercourseofactionthatcouldbetakenwouldbeareevaluationofthe
reasonablenessstandard,whichiscurrentlyusedtoevaluatetheconductofofficerswhohavebeeninan

accusedofexcessiveforce.OtherspeoplehaveproposedtolookattheCourtsexistingdoctrineathand,
whichstatesthatvictimofpoliceviolencefromaskingafederalcourttohelpstopdeadlypractices.Other
advocatesarealsopushingforimprovedresponsiblepolicetrainingandmorecommunityinvolvement.In
ourcurrentsociety,itisverydifficulttoindictpoliceofficersinexcessiveforceslikeEricGarnerscase.
Currentlyprosecutorsworkwithlocallawenforcementsonadailybasis,makingthembiasandlesslikelyto
prosecutethesecasesduetopressureandloyalty.Havinganadditionofanoutsideprosecutorthatdoes
notworkwithlocalauthoritiesonthesecasewouldhaveahugeimpactonthedecisionofthesecases.
Anotherthingtotakeintoaccountisthatifweweretoadoptthepracticeofbodycamsonourpoliceofficers
is,therolethatanindividualhastherighttoobtainfootageoftheencounter.Thistypeofrightshouldgreatly
beseenasabenefit,ifweequipourpolicewithbodycamstheindividualmayfeeltheynolongerneedto
recordtheinteractionorthatapoliceofficerwillthatindividualtostoprecording.Civilianfootagemaybring
upacrucialperspectiveinthecasethatisleftoutinthepoliceofficersfootage.Thistypeofcivilianfootage
bringsuniqueperspectivestothetablebylettingusseethestoryfrombothsidesofthetable.
Sources:
"ConsideringPoliceBodyCameras."HarvardLawReviewConsideringPoliceBodyCamerasComments.
10Apr.2015.Web.23Sept.2015.
<
http://harvardlawreview.org/2015/04/consideringpolicebodycameras/
>.
"PoliceBodyMountedCameras:WithRightPoliciesinPlace,aWinForAll."AmericanCivilLibertiesUnion.
Web.23Sept.2015.<https://www.aclu.org/policebodymountedcamerasrightpoliciesplacewinall>.