7/27/2019 Fact Sheet re NYPD Body Cameras

1/1

In her August 12, 2013 decision in Floyd v. City of New York, Judge Shira Scheindlin orderedthe NYPD to implement a one-year pilot program requiring officers in five precincts to wearbody cameras to provide a contemporaneous, objective record of stop-and-frisks. The judgedid not specify a timetable for the implementation of the program. The City is appealing thedecision.

FACTS

Hundreds of police departments around the country are already using police bodycameras, including departments in big cities like Oakland, Fort Worth, Las Vegas andAlbuquerque. More departments seem to sign up every week. Just this month, LosAngeles and New Orleans announced plans to equip their officers with body cameras.

The Mayor and Police Commissioner have strenuously objected to the judges bodycamera order, with Mayor Bloomberg stating that it would be a nightmare to haveNYPD officers wear them. Pat Lynch, head of the Patrolmens Benevolent Association,said there is simply no need to equip patrol officers with body cams.

In addition to protecting citizens from police abuse, the cameras have been hailed for

their role in reducing false complaints against police officers. The city of Rialto,California, saw complaints against police officers fall by 88 percent, compared to theprior twelve months, after body cams were implemented there.

The cameras can be attached to hats, sunglasses, or shirt collars. At a cost of $300 to$900 per camera, it could cost as much as $31 million to outfit each of the NYPD35,000 officers. Advocates of the cameras, however, have noted the potential savingsfrom frivolous lawsuits against police. New York City paid $664 million in civilsettlements in 2011, including $119 million for police misconduct and civil rightsviolations.

Civil liberties groups have expressed support for police body cameras. Donna Liebermanfrom the New York Civil Liberties Union has stated that, despite privacy concerns,having officers wear body cameras is a win-win for New Yorkers and the police.

Large segments of the voting public favor greater police oversight. A recent poll foundthat 74% of Democrats supported the creation of an NYPD Inspector General, while 85%favored increasing the use of surveillance cameras in public places. It is unknown howthe Mayoral candidates DeBlasio and Lhota feel about police body cameras.

Fact Sheet on NYPD usage of Body Cameras

For Press Conference at Midtown North

Precinct: October 1, 2013