Becoming the Camera: Body Worn Video and Shifting Expectations of Police Work

Abstract

Traditionally positioned at the top of the hierarchy of visibility, police are being incorporated into the surveillant assemblage as a result of the proliferation of citizen cameras and viral footage of misconduct. As they struggle with their new visibility, many departments have turned to body worn video (BWV) as a solution. These devices record from a first-person perspective, giving police the opportunity to present their point-of-view.