Saint Joseph Police Chief Chris Connally says body cameras on police officers are sometimes helpful. But they don’t always live up to expectations.
Connally says body cams don’t cover as much as you might think, especially in close combat. And in some situations, as instant replay in football has shown, even multiple cameras don’t settle the issue.
Connally says the Saint Joseph Police Department began testing body cams three years ago, and the jury is still out. He says witnesses who would ordinarily give information to officers sometimes clam up when they see the camera.
Connally says there are also privacy issues. He says when officers respond to a domestic disturbance and enter a home, the cameras record everything they see. Connally says citizens of Saint Joseph might not like that idea.