It’s show time tonight for the NYPD – when New Yorkers finally get to see some of the behind-the-scenes footage shot by its body cameras.
After a long legal battle between the police department and NY1, the first batch of videos shot by a body camera pilot program is finally public and featured tonight in an extensive report by NY1’s Courtney Gross airing on “The Road to City Hall” at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Much of the footage is non-controversial low-hanging fruit, more Rodney Dangerfield than Rodney King. One police officer is overheard craving hot chocolate while another is asked if he’s “Hollywood” – code for his camera being on.
Still, this is the first time that New Yorkers get an actual glimpse of how our police operate beyond what we see in our own neighborhoods.
A lot of the work is mundane but a reminder how cops constantly have to be on guard -- from “vertical patrols” of a housing project to looking for suspects in a basement. A grim reminder of the risks of the job comes today with the funeral of Office Miosotis Familia, who was gunned down in cold blood last week."
The pilot footage shows that while cops are still getting used to the body cameras, the devices clearly can be an incredibly helpful tool in crime solving. It’s also helpful that someone outside the NYPD actually gets to see the videos -- given that 22,000 officers on patrol will be using the technology by the end of 2019.
It’s also likely that as NYPD lawyers continue to sift through the hours of footage before releasing them to NY1 that there could be more controversial needles in the video haystack.
Again, it’s important and useful to have someone outside the department evaluate the footage – as has been the case in other police departments with body camera programs across the country. “Take our word for it” is never a good motto for a government agency.
In the meantime, watch the videos tonight. Let’s hope the NYPD is ready for its close-up.
Bob Hardt