One-way Surveillance Protocol? – Police Cameras

An article in the Sarasota Herald informs readers of new plans to equip police with subtle cameras.

These cameras may not be clearly visible, and will reside somewhere on the officer’s person. This could be a major improvement to police performance, but could also create problems too. Such problems could include further attacking civilian attempts to record officers under the premise that it is already being done “officially”. In order to thoroughly evaluate this we would need an understanding of the protocols used, and those who have read-write access to it. Also, police have quite a reputation amongst lawyers for baiting and lying to entrap those they wish to arrest or harass.

Many have been arrested recently for passively video-recording officers in public places. Some have been released without charges, and others have been convicted. It might further be considered that in situations where the person recording is the suspect, that at some point the video will promptly end, and the officer’s recorder may or may not continue.

So long as civilians continue to have the right to video-record officers, and the data recorded by officers is protected from tampering, this may be a step in the right direction. It is priority however, to ensure it does not interfere with current rights, and that it not provide opportunity for abuse.

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