Police Officers’ Suggestions for Improving Compliance With Policies Mandating the Use of Body-Worn Cameras

AbstractThere has been distrust in the United States between citizens and law enforcement since the 1991 beating of Rodney King by Los Angeles police officers. The subsequent killing of unarmed African American males by police officers has further heightened awareness of deadly force. Politicians, civil rights advocates, citizens, family members of those killed, and the media have demanded that law enforcement officers be held accountable for their actions by requiring the use of body-worn cameras (BWC) during interactions with the public. Studies have shown that deployment of the BWC has benefits, including increased transparency and accountability, reduced use of force, improved officer/citizen relations, training benefits for officers, improved evidence collection, and increased police legitimacy. However, the cumulative effect of mandatory BWC policy has created a culture of resentment where rank-and-file officers react against the loss of personal discretion to do their jobs. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to gain insight into officers’ refusal to comply with BWC activation mandates. Brehm’s reactance theory maintains that when police officers’ discretion is threatened, they will resist in an attempt to restore it. Due to COVID-19, interviews were conducted virtually with eleven police officers ages 32 to 66. Findings indicated that police officers acknowledged BWC benefits but resented their use by administrators to surveil officers’ daily activities. Insights into officers’ grievances have the potential to revise BWC policies and create positive social change with the benefit of increasing officer compliance. The benefits of the BWC are widely documented, but only if they are activated