California Police Chief- Fall 2013 CPCA_2018_Winter Magazine-FINAL | Page 24

HOW TO CONDUCT
A COST-BENEFIT
ANALYSIS OF
YOUR BODY-WORN
CAMERA PROGRAM
When deciding to implement a BWC program,
the first question a police chief should ask is:
“What organizational problems are we
attempting to solve?”
By Tim Dees (This article originally appeared on PoliceOne.com)
B
ody-worn cameras (BWCs)
are maybe the most celebrated
police technology since the
two-way radio. Citizens want them
because they provide more police
accountability. Cops want them
because they corroborate the reports
they make from field work, and make
short work of personnel complaints.
Treasured as these cameras are,
administrators still have to find a way
to pay for them. That often means
doing a cost-benefit calculation to
justify making BWCs a budget priority
over more patrol cars or new radios.
What is the real return on investment
of a BWC program? lie he’s going to tell first speaks to the
officer arriving on scene, that officer
gets the best elements of his probable
cause.
In a conventional investigation,
that evidence is either lost or is diluted
by having to delay taking photographs
or gathering written statements. When
the officer’s BWC is running from
the first moment, then that initial
impression isn’t reserved for the
officer alone. He can show that video
in court, or to a prosecutor or defense
attorney, and undermine defense
strategies. This means shorter, maybe
fewer trials, with more convictions,
and overall reduced costs.
BETTER EVIDENCE FOR COURT BETTER PERSONNEL
MANAGEMENT
The first observations made by
officers at crime scenes are often the
most compelling. When the battered
spouse answers the door with fresh
bruises on her face, or a negligent
driver who hasn’t settled on which
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The autonomous nature of police
work makes it difficult to supervise
individual officers and know
their practices. When supervisors
review BWC output, they get a
candid perspective on their officers’
performance, one that is not tainted
by knowing the sergeant is on scene,
watching the incident unfold.
Officers who review their own
video will notice both mistakes and
habits that produced good outcomes.
The supervisor and officer become
more of a team, coaching and
encouraging the best practices that
make for better public satisfaction and
more successful officers.
The BWC footage can also help
to identify police training gaps that
can be addressed before a serious
incident occurs. The upshot is a better-
performing patrol force and reduced
officer attrition.
FEWER MISCONDUCT
COMPLAINTS
Detractors of the police believed
that BWCs would demonstrate
to the world how cops were
using force without justification,