As the state legislature begins to grapple with a number of bills related to police conduct and procedures, the Denver Police Department finds itself well ahead in one important area. It is six months into a pilot program using body cameras — with encouraging results.
To be sure, the department still has a lot of work to do to make Denver Independent Monitor Nick Mitchell. But the agency deserves credit for its willingness to pioneer the technology.
Mitchell found several problems with the nascent program — specifically that out of 80 use-of-force incidents reported over a six-month period ending in December, only 21 were recorded.
These are not good numbers, and it would be concerning were this program not in its infancy.
Mitchell’s report found cameras are not being worn by sergeants or other supervisors and aren’t worn by off-duty officers who still respond to incidents.
For officers wearing cameras, many failed to turn them on before an incident got out of control or wore them improperly for recording, the report found. Some cameras weren’t adequately charged or officers didn’t properly follow activation procedures.
The report says when cameras were on, they helped clear some officers of wrongdoing claims and also provided evidence of officers acting improperly.
Body cameras, if used properly, will be a good way to hold accountable both police and the citizens they encounter. And it is laudable that Mayor Michael Hancock and Chief Robert White want to expand the program to all patrol officers.
We agree with many of Mitchell’s recommendations, specifically that cameras always should be recording, if possible, before an encounter with citizens.
And they should be provided to every uniformed officer, regardless of rank and whether they are on-duty or off-duty but moonlighting on a security assignment.
Denver started the pilot project for exactly this reason — to learn about the cameras and whether they would be a good tool. So far they been proven to be effective when used correctly.
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