Wearable cameras for Seattle PD: getting serious?

Amelia Havanec • Feb 6, 2018

Feb 6, 2018

Republish Article

You can republish articles in print or online. Simply copy the HTML below, which includes our tracking pixel, all paragraph styles and hyperlinks, the author byline, and credit to Cascade PBS. Republishing of the photos or videos embedded in an article can occur only if the photo or video is a copyright of Cascade Public Media ("CPM") and not of a third party. Photos and videos that are a copyright of CPM are not required to appear in the republished article, but if they are used, they must be embedded where they appear in the original article and must include the attribution to the CPM photographer.

You may reprint in any medium
You may edit only for tense and timeliness
If republishing in print you can edit for length if you follow our print republishing guidelines.
You may write your own headline
Include a byline and shirttail with credit and link to Cascade PBS
Include our tracking pixel
Remove if we ask

          <article>
            <header>
              <hgroup>
                <h1>Wearable cameras for Seattle PD: getting serious?</h1>
                <h2><p>In his annual report released last week, police monitor Merrick J. Bobb said it was time for the Seattle Police to wear body cameras. Yesterday, the SPD hosted a body-cam video workshop that included fellow officers from Orlando, Louisville and Dallas to talk over the future of this program. As</p></h2>
              </hgroup>
               <p>By <a href="/author/amelia-havanec-crosscut-com/">Amelia Havanec</a></p> 
              <p><time datetime="2025-02-04T05:00:00-08:00">Feb 6, 2018</time></p>
            </header>
            <p>In his annual report released last week, police monitor Merrick J. Bobb said it was time for the Seattle Police to wear body cameras. Yesterday, the SPD hosted a body-cam video workshop that included fellow officers from Orlando, Louisville and Dallas to talk over the future of this program. As <a href="http://www.geekwire.com/2015/the-future-of-police-video-inside-the-seattle-pds-workshop-on-wearable-cameras/?ref=avalancheghost.one">GeekWire reports</a> in a smart, lengthy account, Seattle Mayor Ed Murray and Police Chief Kathleen O'Toole urged support for body-worn video cameras for all Seattle police — more than 600 patrol officers.</p><p>The event was something of a brain-dump for what to do with all that information. One thought was that, after an incident, it might be good to give everyone involved an access code so they could go and review the videos and associated police reports. Other discussions centered around quick redaction of video, potentially using facial recognition software to speed up the laborious process.</p>
          </article>

In his annual report released last week, police monitor Merrick J. Bobb said it was time for the Seattle Police to wear body cameras. Yesterday, the SPD hosted a body-cam video workshop that included fellow officers from Orlando, Louisville and Dallas to talk over the future of this program. As GeekWire reports in a smart, lengthy account, Seattle Mayor Ed Murray and Police Chief Kathleen O'Toole urged support for body-worn video cameras for all Seattle police — more than 600 patrol officers.

The event was something of a brain-dump for what to do with all that information. One thought was that, after an incident, it might be good to give everyone involved an access code so they could go and review the videos and associated police reports. Other discussions centered around quick redaction of video, potentially using facial recognition software to speed up the laborious process.

Our members' donations make local journalism happen.

Support once for $1

Support monthly for $7

Cascade PBS Passport
Mossback members-only newsletter
Print Viewer Guide (opt-in)

Support monthly for $25

Invitation to quarterly news and original programming video conference
Annual in-person meet-up with news & programming teams
Special event perks (reduced price or free tickets, cocktails, etc.)

Continue

By Amelia Havanec

Amelia Havanec is Crosscut's Science and Tech Fellow. She came to Washington from her home state of Connecticut by way of New York, Florida, California and Michigan in pursuit of the perfect pint. Sh