If Denver is going to spend for its first body camera program for officers, it needs to heed the recommendations offered by Independent Monitor Nick Mitchell.
Mitchell examined the use of body cameras by Denver police in a six-month pilot program last year, finding that only one in four use-of-force incidents was recorded.
The department disputes Mitchell’s math, saying more incidents were recorded.
pilot program found officers failed to turn on the cameras, some cameras had technical malfunctions, and many officers didn’t have them in the first place.
Mitchell offered nine recommendations, one of which was that the cameras should be distributed more widely. Clearly, this is what Chief Robert White intends by asking for funding for the cameras, and we support that acquisition.
Mitchell also says there should be better training and all officers who have interactions with the public, regardless of their rank, should wear body cameras.
Even officers who are working on off-duty assignments, such as moonlighting as security guards, and those in specialized units such as SWAT and gang should wear cameras. After all, in all such cases the city will be on the hook for any incident in which excessive force is alleged.
The department says it wants to buy 800 cameras to be issued to patrol and traffic officers.
We hope the department follows Mitchell’s recommendations for who should wear them.
In Mitchell’s review of 80 use-of-force cases filed by officers in District 6 during the pilot project, only 21 cases were recorded with body cameras.
Of those 80 incidents, 35 involved sergeants or officers working off-duty assignments who were not required to wear the cameras. Those off-duty cops are hired as security guards by bars and other businesses but still wear the uniform.
The price is high but the potential benefits of body cameras are substantial, too.
They help clarify complaints against officers, vindicating officers in some cases and holding them accountable for their actions in others, and are an increasingly desirable tool for policing.
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