An effort to use body cameras on Seattle cops is slowly gaining momentum following a rash of controversial police altercations, the most recent of which was the shooting death of John T. Williams by a police officer.
Seattle Council Member Bruce Harrell told The Stranger yesterday that a pilot program to install body cameras on Seattle Police Department officers could debut as early as next year if the mayor includes funding for it in his proposed city budget on Monday. “I hope he has ample money in it to support body cameras,” Harrell said. “A lot of community activists and organizations, including the NAACP, are asking for it.” He added that the city would have to negotiate the body cameras with the Seattle Police Officers Guild, which is considering the plan, before implementing them.
Already, SPD brass have committed to a pilot purchase of forty cameras; however, that would outfit only a small fraction of the force’s 1,350 sworn officers. Harrell said that this would be part of the pilot. The mounted body cameras would each cost about $900.
If it receives the funding to begin the program—possibly a long shot given next year’s projected $67 million shortfall—SPD could try out ear-mounted cameras by Taser and the body-mounted cameras by VEIVU during the pilot to see which one police officers feel most comfortable with, Harrell said. SPD is no stranger to body cameras. A previous stint with the technology raised the hackles of the ACLU over privacy concerns and was finally abandoned when the police guild complained.
Harrell said that things have changed since then, with the Williams’ shooting underscoring the need to have technology that can reconstruct the sequence of events. Oakland recently approved legislation to have its entire police force mounted with body cameras. “This technology will enhance transparency and provide impartial evidence when controversial incidents occur,” Harrell said.
Oakland replaced its dashboard cameras for body cameras for $540,000. Harrell said it made sense to do the same with Seattle’s aging police car cameras.
UPDATE: Council Member Harrell’s office said that he wanted to see 40 to 100 body cameras in the pilot program. According to his office, none of the pilot cameras are guaranteed at this point and have to go through the budget process as well as union negotiations.
I thought this was already in effect in trials? My girlfriend was pulled over for a broken headlight a few nights ago and the officer asked her if she was comfortable being recorded by a body-worn camera. I have no problem with officers recording their interactions in and with the public so long as it doesn’t cross the line into further surveillance.
Under what legal basis did the police guild complain about this?
Just eliminate funding for SPD firearms and ammo for beat cops. Have them call in for a trained armed officer if they expect danger. Less money, more effective, better for civil liberties and safety.
Why cameras? I don’t get it.
So, if we have a camera on a cop shooting video while he murders someone THEN we can do something about it? No one could do that before? There isn’t enough evidence until we get video of a murder? Isn’t there one of those dudes that collects clues around somewhere or does that guy not work on cops? Does that really cost $900 x every SPD officer? I’m pretty sure if I go and shoot someone and am holding the gun when the show up and the guy is holding a legal knife the cops wouldn’t just let me go if their wasn’t video of the incident. They would get that clue collector dude and dude would collect his clues and if there was enough clues, he’d charge me with a crime. Do we really need a fucking camera on everyone cop? Isn’t this just throwing money down a hole because no one wants to hold the SPD accountable?
What a waste of money.
Robocops don’t make better cops. Better cops make better cops.
@1 “I have no problem you banging my girlfriend as long as it doesn’t get intimate”
@6 No kissing on the mouth, thems the rules.
@7 So we’re agreed: cameras on cops is like a cop fucking your girlfriend without kissing her on the mouth.
I am against the idea of London-style surveillance, I feel it is pointless and has been proven unnecessary and wasteful. I am all for a new system to hold our police accountable for their actions in the interim of better training and the continued failure of their actions. Cameras mounted ON cops is a means of surveilling them more than us. ‘them’ assuming you aren’t a cop.
@2, the basis of the guild’s complaint was a change in working conditions.
But it’s not enough to make these guys and girls wear cameras. We also need tough measures in place to ensure that the cameras are actually used, and that the recordings are made available to the public. If the police just get to withhold these recordings, the whole promise of accountability will be for nothing.
@ 9 I think the current system would work fine if the police were held accountable when all the facts are there. So, I’m telling you right now, my gf has mad stds (an effective and fair police accountability system), so if you’re gonna bone (murder innocent people), you’re gonna pay with the itchys (prison).
@11. I’ve been woo’d with the continuation of this metaphor. The next time my gf gets the itchies I’ve got a bone to pick with my spd’s… okay i’ve lost it.
I’m skeptical a jury could interpret body camera footage of an incident more accurately than they could two opposing stories.
So is there a prohibition against hyphens in headlines? Three nouns in a row is hard to parse.
Hopefully, this can get done. I think Harrell is on to something. Accountability is important and this will greatly enhance that.