The University of Iowa Department of Public Safety officers almost always wear body cameras. The officers with the Iowa City Police Department sometimes, or rarely wear body cameras. And other agencies in the area only have the recording equipment that exists in their squad cars.
Body cameras are an excellent tool, and I’m pleased whenever I am able to review this evidence to determine what really happened on the night of the encounter. The situation is rarely precisely as either party remembers it, and with a body camera the truth is in the data.
NPR reported this morning on the use of officer-worn body cameras, and one study shows that while wearing cameras citizen complaints and police violence decreased. It’s no surprise that all parties behave more “civilly” when they all know the recording will be reviewed.
In reviewing a criminal case, I would much rather see how a defendant performed on field sobriety tests, than read how they performed on a report. This has a positive effect on all clients I have dealt with, when they see the facts, they are much more comfortable with entering a guilty plea and negotiating a plea bargain. I would think the officers would appreciate the data as well, showing a video of an incident can put an immediate end to a citizen’s allegation.
Body cameras have shown in practice that they are an effective tool in avoiding a costly and unnecessary jury trial or evidence suppression hearing. I would support all departments following UIPD’s example by wearing these devices as often as possible.