Abstract
ObjectivesExamine how the amount and makeup of police-initiated activities changed after the introduction of body-worn cameras (BWCs).MethodsFrom May 21 to November 22, 2016, patrol officers and sergeants from the Milwaukee Police Department were involved in a randomized controlled trial. Through a stratified random sampling procedure, half the officers (n = 252) were assigned BWCs, while officers from the control group (n = 252) continued business as usual. The counts of proactive activities, which included a total count of self-initiated events, as well as traffic stops, business checks, subject stops, and park and walks, were examined using random-effects negative binominal panel regression analyses. The models included a unique measure of contamination to assess its impact on officers’ proactivity.ResultsBWCs had no impact on the total amount of officer-initiated activities, traffic stops, or business checks. Officers with BWCs conducted approximately 8% fewer subject stops and 23% more park and walks than those in the control group. In all models, contamination levels were significantly, positively associated with the number of proactive activities that were conducted; however, the size of this effect was very small.ConclusionsResults suggest that BWC-wearing officers may be less likely to engage in proactive activities that are highly discretionary and that could potentially lead to confrontations with community members. As departments continue to develop BWC programs or fine-tune their existing BWC policies, more research is needed to understand the degree to which BWCs affect officers’ behaviors and interactions with the public.
Highlights
Background and problem statementGiven their rapid adoption by departments across the USA and abroad in recent years, body-worn cameras (BWCs) are increasingly becoming emblematic of modern policing
An earlier analysis of the data used for the current study found that Milwaukee police officers equipped with body cameras conducted 8% fewer subject stops between the pre- and post-intervention periods compared to control group officers (Peterson et al 2018)
Phase 2 occurred in March 2016, during which we worked with the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) to initiate a randomized controlled trial (RCT) where 252 officers were randomly assigned a BWC and 252 officers continued their work without BWCs
Summary
Given their rapid adoption by departments across the USA and abroad in recent years, body-worn cameras (BWCs) are increasingly becoming emblematic of modern policing. In a survey conducted prior to the 2014 shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO, and the increased police scrutiny that resulted nationwide, officers reported that their colleagues would be less willing to conduct proactive policing activities if they were forced to wear BWCs (Jennings et al 2014). Because BWC footage can be reviewed by police supervisors or outside entities (e.g., media or community groups), cameras may make officers less willing to engage in activities that could result in an increased chance of being disciplined, demoted, publically ridiculed, or injured (Shjarback et al 2017; Wallace 2018)
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