CNET News - Cops aren't the only ones embracing body cameras

Police departments around the country have started using body cameras in the wake of confrontations in Ferguson, Mo., and New York. In the near future, cops likely won't be the only ones using them on the job. CNET.com's Kara Tsuboi explains who else may be wearing them and what it means for your privacy and protection.

[TheOrangeType]

I don't know, I think these things should always be on.

I mean, you could pull someone over, switch off the recording, beat the crap out of them and then theres no physical evidence of that happening. Sure, it would be obvious in that situation, but there are other situation where it wouldn't be so.

These cameras should be for the benefit of both the officers and the public, so the officers themselves shouldn't have control over the recording. If they do the benefits could fall more into their favour, rather than an equal share with the public.

It should be able to have maybe a 5 or 6 hour recording length, and it rewrites when the storage is full. That way the footage can be uploaded after dealing with an issue and the useless footage of patrols and the such could be automatically deleted.

[Rielestkid]

Could be way smaller! And shouldn't let officers turn it off, what's the point?

[ocvipe]

What privacy do people think they have when they're out in public??

[ShootCreateLive]

Waste of money
Why would the officer turn it on if he are she is doing something illegal

[jacoble]

Isn't illegal to record people without permission

[rockersamurai]

This is flawless implementation of camera technology. Record when you want to. I don't about you, but a normal person wouldn't record their activities when they are doing something bad. So Pearson why didn't you record, from the start, your encounter with the Mr Isaac that ultimately led to you shooting him in the foot. Sir, I just didn't a chance to and when I finally remembered, he was already shot and there was enough time to ahem contain the situation - evidence and what not. Police cameras never work (prospectively or retrospectively) when certain Police actions are called into question.

[valken]

To hell with privacy. You can always sue for defamation. Now give me my camera so I'll protect myself. 

[xkluzivtv]

In public there is no privacy (_Maybe, that's why they call it public because more than 1 person knows_?) - Therefore, I do not see the issue with the body cameras. However, video cameras worn by officers are great in that society will learn how police interact in different communities across America and will learn what other communities in America look like compared to theirs. 

For example, body cameras on officers will show officers actions in neighborhoods that are heavily drug infested where cop killings of unarmed suspects/victims are rampant and happening more often compared to areas where drug use is confined to homes of the wealthy and there are not individuals hanging out on the corners or in front of neighborhood carry-outs across America and thus less confrontation with Officers on public streets. 

[flukejoblo]

when is RoboCop coming to town. He has 24-7 recordings :)

[efthimios]

If I was in law enforcement I would refuse to work without it

If the officer can turn it off it defeats the purpose entirely

If your are not doing anything wrong you won't care that it's on all the time. They can take it off if they go to bathroom or whatnot

[ericdarnelljohnson]

this is crap because they can determine when to turn it on and off. As far as the consumer camera, the people that really need to have the camera, can't afford it.

[CtrlAltDef_]

The implementation of the body camera should be as useful to a police officer or the public as an officers notepad. The notepad is an actual legal document and fully admissible in court. The sad thing is the notepad can easily be falsified where as a video can't. As soon as an officer goes on duty the camera should be on. And should be stored in a hard drive and cloud for as long as it takes much like the notepad. Wanting to be an officer I fully stand behind the body camera.

[jordan]

So you mean to tell me that the police officer can turn on and off the camera?! lol and there is no such thing as privacy left lol

[theelementofminecraf]

We'll you are in public it's not suppose to be private

[PKNeoHaseo]

...or just keep it off, since majority of cops don't give a ****!

[RealtimeReviews]

The cops will purposely turn it off, block it, delete video etc. Cops are sketcky