Technology and Operational Safety - Pros and Cons for Police Officers [Leading Edge]

The point of view (POV) camera is a compact portable device carried by police officers that captures video/audio records of operational situations. However, this technology may create serious repercussions in post-incident investigations, if the differences between human and camera perception are not understood. In addition, POV cameras pose specific issues for officer safety. Data integrity is a crucial issue for the legal process after the fact, as well as for reviewers understanding how to interpret the data correctly in the context of the original situation. The purpose is not to challenge the integrity of the equipment, but to remind all parties that it has limitations. POV camera recordings can be great memory refreshers for the officers involved and offer valuable insights for reviewers, but the key lies in understanding that they do not definitively explain every incident.