IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Summer 2014 - 33

rather than making sound tactical decisions based
on safety and control.

■

Post-Incident Analysis

■

Agency - review of conduct with policy and used
for training.
Legal - used as evidence in court proceedings.
Public - correct perceptions of reality versus bias
opinion.

The integrity of the data must be assured before
the data is reviewed and analysed. The camera software/hardware must be robust enough to record
The data must be used in context. Taking a 20 secaccurately under any operational conditions - light,
ond behavioral "snapshot" from a 20 minute situation
weather, position, interaction, etc. The image and
can be misleading and used to represent bias views
audio should remain uninterrupted for continuity
and influence opinion. It is crucial that those reviewof transmission, as "gaps" can create issues in posting/analyzing the data properly understand the pros
analysis. Video evidence should clearly
and cons this data represents, and account
display the time/date taken, so the equipfor these factors during review. An adviTaking a
ment should enable time/date indenting in
sory is a useful tool in promoting thor20 second
the recording process. A statement should
ough and impartial investigations, and
accompany video evidence detailing who
should be delivered before officers view
behavioral
took the video, date, time, and location
video of an incident they were involved in
"snapshot"
the data was obtained, the nature of the
or before persons responsible for judging
from a 20
evidence and the duration of footage.
the officer's actions see it. The advisory
minute
A key issue for evidence is data integshould be formulated with the assistance
rity, ensuring that a recording remains in its
of legal representatives experienced in
situation can
original unadulterated form. The recorded
be misleading. use-of-force investigations. The purfootage must be stored in accordance with
pose is not to challenge the integrity of
correct evidentiary handling procedures,
the equipment, but to remind all parties
and the original recordings should be available when
that it has limitations. POV camera recordings can be
requested by the courts, as well as to justify the storgreat memory refreshers for the officers involved and
age and handling process. The data needs to be reliably
offer valuable insights for reviewers, but the key lies
and transparently stored in a secure manner, up to and
in understanding that they do not definitively explain
including the point where it is reviewed and analyzed,
every incident.
and this includes strictly monitoring any copies.
POV cameras can be useful in recording situations
Author Information
in real time that can then be reviewed later, a process
richard Kay is the Director & Senior Tactical Trainer
that may have the following benefits:
of Modern Combatives International, a provider of
operational safety training for the public safety com■ Officer - assist with recall of events after a
munity. He can be contacted at rich@moderncombasituation.
tives.com.au or via www.moderncombatives.com.au.

IEEE TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY MAGAZINE

SuMMEr 2014

http://tives.com.au http://www.moderncombatives.com.au

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