Las Vegas Metro Police Bodycam Study Released

LAS VEGAS, NV - Body-worn cameras are working for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. That's according to a study released Tuesday by CNA, a nonprofit research and analysis organization located in Arlington, VA, who found that misconduct complaints had decreased by 30 percent for officers wearing body cameras compared to five percent for those not.

The study was conducted over the course of a year and involved over 400 Metro police officers. The study was done in conjunction with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and the University of Las Vegas Nevada. Funding was provided by the United States Justice Department's National Institute of Justice.

Officers were divided into two groups: those with body-worn cameras (BWCs) and those without. Additionally among the findings are that in addition to a reduction in complaints, use of force decreased by almost 12 percent--from 31.2 to 19.7 percent--for officers wearing BWCs. For those not wearing cameras, use of force increased by one percent.

The report also indicates that BWCs were cost effective for LVMPD. Due to fewer misconduct complaints and investigations, the department saved on average roughly $3,000 per officer.

Dr. Chip Coldren, an author of the report and Managing Director of Justice Programs at CNA, said that the report is indicative of the efficacy of BWCs from an operational standpoint.

“It provides compelling evidence cameras can generate savings by simplifying complaint resolution, which can add up to millions of dollars for a major city and lead to large reductions in the use of force by police," Coldren said in a press release.

The full report can be read here: https://www.cna.org/cna_files/...

Image via Matt Rourke/Associated Press