By Michael Cayes
Mooring Tech, Inc.
This article is provided by Mooring Tech, Inc. and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of Police1.
It would be an understatement at this point to say that tensions between civilian groups and police are high. With over a dozen nationally publicized incidents between police and civilians last year, it becomes clear where cases get hung up. Even with physical evidence, so much of an investigation relies on eyewitness statements, which can get muddled even by people with the very best intentions. The result is asking departments to provide a more transparent view into the world of internal investigations. Citizens want to know that the emergency services they fund are working to protect them and not to exploit them. Departments want to spend as much time as possible in their communities protecting people, not bogged down by internal affairs. Both parties have the same goal; the good news is that there is a series of simple steps that can be taken to reach it.
It is unfortunate that so many officers have to field complaints of mistreatment when statistics show that over 90% are unfounded. It distracts from their work and is a waste of department time and resources. That said, it is more than worth the time and effort of an investigation when complaints are justified, and an officer has acted out of line with the core values of his department and his oath to serve and protect. With a little extra attention to detail in the field, made easy by readily available technology in most departments, officers can expedite the investigation process when unfounded complaints are brought against them.
Taking photo, video, and more detailed notes in the field when possible has several positive effects: it keeps citizens from filing false reports, keeps officers accountable, and presents an empirical look at what’s happening even when human memory is impacted by stress and trauma. Recollections of traumatic events are often altered by post-traumatic stress, and usually no one is more affected than the officer involved. It is a huge comfort for officers in the middle of investigations to know that there is solid evidence corroborating their innocence.
Taking comprehensive notes is also preemptive in that it provides a pattern for officers that can help protect them even in situations where they are unable to keep records and have to defend themselves with their word and available evidence from the scene of the incident.
Currently, approximately one-third of police departments nationwide use body cameras; these are an easy way to document what is happening in an altercation for later use. In the absence of a body camera, officers have access to their in-car technology. The Panasonic ToughPad is an extremely effective and smart choice for officers with its 8-megapixel camera, built-in microphone, and optional stylus for easy note-taking. The tablet ensures that notes won’t be lost, and in many cases can instantly be uploaded to the department’s remote server. Using ToughPads and other available equipment to create complete and objective pictures of incidents can help protect officers, their departments, and the communities they serve.