Understanding the Effects of Body Worn Cameras on Police Interactions With the Public: Impact on Number of Assaults on Officers and Use of Force Complaints Against Officer

Incidents of reported excessive or improper use of force by Law Enforcement Officers (LEO) during interactions with the public have revealed significant rifts in relationships built on mutual trust and respect. The community/law Enforcement relationships may be redeemed by the implementation of a body-worn camera (BWC) program. BWC use has been a repeated suggestion to aid Law Enforcement (LE) professionals to increase public trust through transparency by law enforcement professionals, civic and community leaders. However, since body-worn cameras have become a new presence as a reliable law enforcement tool, there is little research on their real-life application and ability to positively change human behavior for both the public and law enforcement. The purpose of this explorative study is to examine the relationship between the wearing of body worn cameras and their ability to change behaviors of citizens and the law enforcement officers in the Las Vegas Metro Police Department (LVMPD). It is hypothesized that a body-worn camera program would impact the actions of private citizens and LEOs through declines in citizens' complaints against officers as well as through reductions in assaults on police officers. The results showed significant reductions on assaults, but not on citizens' complaints. Limitations and practical implications of the results will be further discussed.