IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Summer 2014 - 32

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serve trusts them to do the tasks they are employed
and trained to do.
POV cameras pose specific issues to physical
safety. A camera has the possibility of causing blunt
force trauma, as pieces of camera material pose the
risk of edged weapon or fragmentation trauma to the
skull, soft tissue, and sensory organs if shattered. In
the event of a close-proximity struggle with a suspect,
the camera may become dislodged and swing around,
impeding or distracting officer actions. The camera
cable may accidently get tangled around an officer, or
purposefully in the case of a suspect using it to choke/
restrain the officer.
The presence of a camera may make the officer
a target, regardless of where it is located. If the suslooxcie 2 Video Camera. Source: http://www.flickr.
pect doesn't want their actions recorded they might
com/photos/54450095@n05/6345166957.
continuously move away from the camera field
of view, causing the officer to constantly move to
be missing, and what's shown can be significantly
maintain camera focus on the suspect and result in
skewed. POV cameras claim to have the view of the
the officer becoming overly focused on "recording
officer, but they don't. No camera records things the
the suspect" rather than operational awareness. The
same way that an officer's eyes and brain record it.
suspect might try to disrupt the camera's ability to
The camera is a "neutral, unemotional
record, by trying to dislodge it from
observer." It has broad focus, with expanse
the officer, or trying to damage it to
Point of view
and detail restricted by position and lens
impair its function. The worst case
cameras pose
quality/range. In contrast, an officer in
scenario would be for the suspect to
an operational situation does not have the
specific issues try and neutralize the camera/officer
same panoramic vision. While the camthrough violent action as a means of
to physical
era indiscriminately captures the broader
escaping the situation, eliminating the
safety.
picture, the officer selectively assesses a
camera as a plausible option to destroy
scene from the outset of an encounter (e.g.,
incriminating evidence. regardless of
observing for threat cues). The officer focuses on
perception, the recording provides evidence in court
information determined by context, excluding what is
that is harder to refute than verbal testimony alone.
considered irrelevant.
With the camera attached to the officer, this puts the
Training and experience, the basis for operational
officer directly in potential harm's way.
decisions, allows for quick identification and selective
POV cameras offer the advantage of going where
focus of relevant information. In contrast to the camthe officer goes. As a situation unfolds and officers
era's inclusiveness, the officer's brain suppresses from
change position, the camera adapts to suit. This
cognition what seems unimportant. Of millions of bits
is more relevant with the head-mounted version
of information that emanate from a given environof the POV camera, as it will always focus on the
ment, only a small proportion will reach the brain's
officer's line of sight, whereas the shoulder/chestprocessing area and even less will be formulated into
mounted version will see only where the torso faces.
conscious perceptions upon which judgments are
Movement is a key factor for effective action in a
based. Context influences meaning. A POV camera
violent confrontation. An officer "interviewing" a
doesn't know or record how the officer is interpreting
suspect involves static positioning at appropriate
what is seen.
safe distance. Engaging a resistive suspect involves
dynamic movement, creating a jerky and shaken
Operational Considerations
image, which becomes difficult to analyze for offiThere are benefits of POV cameras for officers and
cer/suspect action.
agencies. However, they may serve to instill a negaDuring a situation, an officer has many aspects
tive attitude of wariness and distrust in officers
to focus on, and wearing a POV camera creates
towards their agency, which in turn may affect operaadditional factors for officer consideration, with
tional choices made by officers. Feeling like bureauthese extra factors possibly distracting the officer
cracy is scrutinizing every word and action does little
from the matter at hand. Officers may make tactito foster confidence, and to be effective in their role,
cal decisions based on "keeping the cameras rollofficers must feel confident that the bureaucracy they
ing" and getting situational footage for later use,
32

IEEE TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY MAGAZINE

SuMMEr 2014

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Summer 2014