Police comments on body cameras suggest that cops could see benefits by being investigated

Most U.S. law enforcement agencies have either pledged or seized body cameras for their police officers. But officials’ concerns about the loss of independence in the area are balanced when they have access to their own body photographs, according to a study from the McCombs Business School at the University of Texas at Austin.

In the upcoming review and online in advance in Organizational science, Shefali Patil, Texas McCombs ‘associate professor of management, along with Ethan S. Bernstein of Harvard Business School, discovers that police believe cameras “reveal the truth from the officers’ point of view” and “protecting officers” on charges of misconduct.

“What is traditionally thought of as a top-down study is thought to be much more equitable when everyone gets access to the film,” Patil said. first, show their side of the story. That can reduce the divide that some officers feel between themselves and the people who monitor the performance of their work. “

For the first part of the study, investigators asked the police what their views were on the ability to make decisions at work and polarize with the public.

Three months after being decorated by the cameras, officers felt less independent – but they also felt less polarized from the public they serve.

Next, police organizations provided five randomly selected videos from the body cameras of each participating officer – for a total of 820 videos – that gave examples of officers ’psychological states, such as autonomy or polarization. The investigators asked independent experts to code and evaluate police behavior captured on camera. Officers then assessed their performance and feelings in each case.

“We asked about police behavior in a number of ways,” Patil said. The first was their interpersonal interactions with citizens: “How much do the police like the people when they are working on a scene?” The other is how they are. reflects a generally positive image of law enforcement. ”

The researchers found that officers were more respectful in situations where they reported feelings of less polarization – situations where officers went out of their way to explain methods, such as why they were stopped. put on someone, rather than going on without explanation. They were trying to build mutual understanding or explain what the police officers saw as a potential threat.

Patil said the findings differ from previous research into the benefits of scrutiny due to officers’ new access to body camera film.

“It’s not just symbolic reach,” she said. “That is a lesson for any organization. Employees need to know with a view that they can review the performance of their work at any time and especially when their actions are questioned. . ”