New Orleans police officer turned off her body camera just before shooting man - Polidicks

[url]http://www.fox8live.com/story/26283883/officer-involved-in-monday-shooting-had-body-cam-turned-off[/url] [quote]An officer who was involved in a Monday shooting that left a man hospitalized turned off her body camera just before the incident. Officer Lisa Lewis fired a weapon during a traffic stop Monday, striking suspect Armand Bennett, 26, in the head. Serpas the shots were fired following a scuffle between the two. However, the NOPD did not disclose the shooting to the public until Wednesday evening. New Orleans police said Officer Lisa Lewis got into a fight with a man during a traffic stop on Mimosa Court in Algiers. During the altercation, she shot 26-year-old Armand Bennet in the forehead. Bennet's attorney, Nandi Campbell, said her client never resisted, and she claims the officer fired a second shot at her client as he ran away. The officer's attorney countered that Lewis had turned her body camera off because her shift was about to end and she was on her way back to the Fourth District station when she initiated the traffic stop that led to the shooting. "What good is the camera if officers are able to take them off and just put them on the side?" Campbell asked. [/quote]

I think they should change it so that pushing that button triggers a silent alarm and puts the camera feed and officer's name up on one of the screens at the station, rather than turning it off. The catch: don't tell the officers.

Looks like Ferguson's gonna have to step up.

[QUOTE=Jamsponge;45740298]I think they should change it so that pushing that button triggers a silent alarm and puts the camera feed and officer's name up on one of the screens at the station, rather than turning it off. The catch: don't tell the officers.[/QUOTE] People will always find a way around it. Piece of black tape over the lens, etc.

[QUOTE=paul simon;45740317]People will always find a way around it. Piece of black tape over the lens, etc.[/QUOTE] Make it a crime to tamper with it. Problem solved.

At the very least make it such that if you discharge your firearm after you've turned your camera off, an FBI investigation is guaranteed. Being put on administrative leave and permanent note of the record guaranteed if your bullets hit anyone while the camera was off, even if the investigation finds no harm afterwards.

[QUOTE=Jamsponge;45740298]I think they should change it so that pushing that button triggers a silent alarm and puts the camera feed and officer's name up on one of the screens at the station, rather than turning it off. The catch: don't tell the officers.[/QUOTE] Problem with this is if the footage they capture is used to convict the officer, that whole idea would not stay a secret for very long.

[QUOTE=darkrei9n;45740328]Make it a crime to tamper with it. Problem solved.[/QUOTE] Who polices police? The police police police police.

[QUOTE=]The officer's attorney countered that Lewis had turned her body camera off because her shift was about to end and she was on her way back to the Fourth District station when she initiated the traffic stop that led to the shooting.[/QUOTE] Even if you switched off the equipment for the end of your shift, it seems dumb to initiate a traffic stop without being properly prepared first. If you stopped traffic, you're still on duty. If you're still on duty, then your camera should be turned back on.

He should be given a desk job just for turning it off.

[QUOTE=Megadave;45740670]He should be given a desk job just for turning it off.[/QUOTE] She*

[QUOTE=paul simon;45741090]She*[/QUOTE] Dunno why people are dumbing this, it says in the article it was a female officer.

Just make it so that you can only turn the camera off at the station. If Internal Affairs finds out you tampered with it or turned it off while it's still your shift - even if it's at the end - you get extra suspicion and/or punishment during their case.

[QUOTE=darkrei9n;45740328]Make it a crime to tamper with it. Problem solved.[/QUOTE] But that would make police feel paranoid about doing something wrong because they're being watched Then this gives them less authority

[QUOTE=joshdasmif;45741827]But that would make police feel paranoid about doing something wrong because they're being watched Then this gives them less authority[/QUOTE] but if nothing to hide, [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nothing_to_hide_argument"]ect.[/URL] If they're intentionally tampering with something there for accountability purposes, it doesn't put them in a good light.

My problem with the camera thing is it'll make them second guess [I]everything[/I]. It also discourages any community interaction because nobody wants all of their private conversations recorded, not the cop or the citizen.

[QUOTE=Mr. Someguy;45742053]My problem with the camera thing is it'll make them second guess [I]everything[/I]. It also discourages any community interaction because nobody wants all of their private conversations recorded, not the cop or the citizen.[/QUOTE] I absolutely want my interactions with police recorded.

[QUOTE=ilikecorn;45742327]You should feel paranoid about doing something wrong.. that way you don't do something wrong. Complacency will get you, or someone around you, killed.[/QUOTE] No, a police officer should feel confident that they know what the right thing to do is, especially in high risk situations. Freezing for even a few seconds can make a massive difference in the outcome of a situation.

The problem with that is even if they are sure they aren't doing wrong, it can still make them hesitate during a legitimate shooting and get them killed. It puts a lot of pressure on them.

[QUOTE=ilikecorn;45742455]It shouldn't. It should relieve a lot of shit from their shoulders. It would actually show what happened during a firefight, you wouldn't have to worry about he said she said bullshit. It also makes the investigation process open and shut.. assuming you actually wear the camera and have it on..[/QUOTE] Have you ever worked at a job with a supervisor looking over your shoulder? I'll assume not from what you're saying. It's a lot harder to do your job properly when you're constantly worried you'll get berated for something small that doesn't matter, or make a mistake you normally wouldn't because you're worried about them bitching you out. Same principle here.

[QUOTE=Zeke129;45742235]I absolutely want my interactions with police recorded.[/QUOTE] I also want my interactions recorded. I support body cams and hope we get them soon in our department. Saves my ass, saves your ass.

[QUOTE=plunger435;45742476]Have you ever worked at a job with a supervisor looking over your shoulder? I'll assume not from what you're saying. It's a lot harder to do your job properly when you're constantly worried you'll get berated for something small that doesn't matter, or make a mistake you normally wouldn't because you're worried about them bitching you out. Same principle here.[/QUOTE] Unless of course they only look at the cameras in the event you actually did something wrong. Its not like they would be watching you your entire shift. But if someone gets shot it would be nice to see why they were shot and whether or not it was justified. And if it makes some officers think twice before using lethal force that is a good thing.

[QUOTE=darkrei9n;45742528]Unless of course they only look at the cameras in the event you actually did something wrong. Its not like they would be watching you your entire shift. But if someone gets shot it would be nice to see why they were shot and whether or not it was justified. [B]And if it makes some officers think twice before using lethal force that is a good thing[/B].[/QUOTE] Which could be enough to get them injured or worse in a life or death situation.

[QUOTE=plunger435;45742565]Which could be enough to get them injured or worse in a life or death situation.[/QUOTE] If they're in a life or death situation legitimately then they won't think twice and won't have to, but too many situations are popping up where it's not a life or death situation but police are using lethal force anyway, seemingly without even half a thought.

[QUOTE=hippowombat;45742580]If they're in a life or death situation legitimately then they won't think twice and won't have to, but too many situations are popping up where it's not a life or death situation but police are using lethal force anyway, seemingly without even half a thought.[/QUOTE] I'll bite the bullet and ask for some of these situations

[QUOTE=ilikecorn;45742593]Either way they'll get put on leave and investigated. That argument falls flat here. If anything a camera would free up a lot of guess work on behalf of the investigation. "Hmm, was this justified?"*checks tape* "yes, yes it was, case closed"[/QUOTE] You're not even addressing my argument there, not even remotely, I'm saying those seconds they take to doubt themselves because of pressure put on them by the camera watching all their actions can end up with them dead if someone's actually attacking them, if they're dead I don't see how them being out on leave and investigated would be a problem?

[QUOTE=plunger435;45742659]You're not even addressing my argument there, not even remotely, I'm saying those seconds they take to doubt themselves because of pressure put on them by the camera watching all their actions can end up with them dead if someone's actually attacking them, if they're dead I don't see how them being out on leave and investigated would be a problem?[/QUOTE] You do realize police cars already have dash cameras right? I doubt those have harmed police officers.

[QUOTE=Code3Response;45742596]I'll bite the bullet and ask for some of these situations[/QUOTE] [URL="http://www.salon.com/2013/07/07/%E2%80%9Cwhy_did_you_shoot_me_i_was_reading_a_book_the_new_warrior_cop_is_out_of_control/"]Hi.[/URL] Excerpt from a book about the rise of police militarization in America.

[QUOTE=darkrei9n;45742696]You do realize police cars already have dash cameras right? I doubt those have harmed police officers.[/QUOTE] Except dashcams don't record your every movements all day, and are mostly just used to get license plate numbers from stops, and in case someone attacks them at a traffic stop.

[QUOTE=Code3Response;45742596]I'll bite the bullet and ask for some of these situations[/QUOTE] [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Boyd_shooting"]James Boyd[/URL] [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Kelly_Thomas"]Kelly Thomas[/URL] [URL="http://articles.latimes.com/2014/feb/04/local/la-me-lapd-dorner-20140204"]Police officers opening fire on a vehicle under the assumption that Christopher Dorner was inside.[/URL] [URL="http://articles.latimes.com/2011/dec/24/local/la-me-lapd-shooting-20111224"]The shooting of Reginald Doucet Jr[/URL] [QUOTE]In an interview, Hicks said Goff's version of events doesn't match the bullet wounds Doucet suffered. He said Los Angeles County coroner's officials concluded during an autopsy that the bullet that hit Doucet's neck traveled in a downward trajectory, which seemingly would not be possible if Goff had been on his knee while shooting.[/QUOTE] Just to name a few.