Following public outcry and protests President Obama announced a plan to improve relations between police and the public. The plan includes 75 million dollars for 50,000 body cameras for police officers. And the Las Cruces Police Department already had plans to expand the use of cameras.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqA1eyThkbc
Before the recent controversies about police use of force there was Albuquerque New Mexico. Albuquerque Police Department footage released in 2014 shows an unarmed homeless man surrounded by five armed and uniformed officers. From a camera atop an officer’s helmet, you can watch as the man is shot to death. This wasn’t the first time a police shooting in Albuquerque raised concerns there were dozens over the last decade. But the video released in this case prompted nationwide attention and a Department of Justice investigation.
Incidents like the one in Albuquerque and elsewhere may have contributed to strong national support for the use of police body cameras. 87 percent said it was a good idea in a poll conducted by USA Today and the Pew Research Center. Interviewed Las Crucens had their own thoughts on body worn cameras on police officers and what they could do to police officer conduct and relations in the community.
“They should have done it long ago here in New Mexico especially Albuquerque. It seems like they just have a license to kill and no body challenges them" Leeann Aguilar says
“It all comes down to when we are getting younger and the younger police force and there are attitudes are a little bit different than old school from before" Mark Gallegos says
“I think they are insulting and I think its going to be incredibly expensive and not that necessary” Jane Murphy says.
“The police are kind of like bullies with badges, even in this little town. I have been followed and pulled over a couple of times for no particular reason at all and that will stop guys from doing stuff like that, knowing that they are on tape and they are being filmed or something like that” Randy Robinson says
Las Cruces Police department spokesperson Dan Trujillo says cameras do enhance oversight of officer interactions but the check and balance of video really cuts both ways..
“I think that all and all the cameras have been more of a benefit to the officers- in their investigation and in proving the facts of their case” Trujillo says.
Trujillo cites many examples of false assault claims made against officers, citizens trying to get out of traffic tickets, and conflicting stories- that recorded video has allowed to be verified and evaluated in a court- when it is taken that far.
“It is kind of hard to fight video proof “ he says.
The Las Cruces Police department has actually been using body cameras since 2012 and had been using audio recorders before that. They currently have 15 cameras shared between 140 uniformed officers. But in 2015…72 more cameras will be put into use with about 320-thousand dollars of city funds.
It sounds like a lot of money but it’s little more than half of the $625-thousand the city has spent in settling police misconduct claims in the last 4 years. Trujillo says cameras are effective but there are limitations.
“Officers go on roughly 355 calls a day so do the math on that. We cannot have this camera on for every single call we can not have it on for every 10 hour shift our officers are so there are limited times when our officers can use these or should be using them. Obviously it is there discretion if they realize that they should have video proof of a incident” he says
Trujillo says officers are given discretion on the use of the cameras. But in certain incidents including domestic disputes and dealings with mentally ill residents police are obliged to turn on their cameras and can be disciplined or even suspended for failing to do so.
Trujillo says the potential for more federal funding along with cheaper and better technology should allow cameras to become more widely used by police.