In my previous blog post I discussed the application MobilePD, and how it helps link police and citizens 24 hours a day for emergency notifications and significant information. There's no doubt this can be helpful but how have web apps changed the way we operate as police officers?
Two applications, especially for smartphones, have really changed the way officers do their daily duties. The application OpenWatch (www.openwatch.net) acts as a forum where users can upload media files from its' counterpart application CopRecorder (https://market.android.com/details?id=org.ale.coprecord&hl=en) for everyone to listen to. Essentially a user hits the button for their application on their smartphone while interacting with an officer, which secretly records the audio of the interaction. This can be done prior to the officer approaching them, which keeps the recording itself discrete. Users then immediately upload the recording anonymously to the OpenWatch application, which can then be accessed by anyone from the Internet to listen to the recordings online.
I've always been a believer in the fact that if you do your job the right way you have nothing to worry about. In some states however, police officers that use cruiser dashboard cameras have to advise the person they pull over that they're being audio and video recorded. Some states have ruled that the citizens can opt not to be, but others say you lose your right to privacy when being held on a traffic stop. Yet if the citizen records the officer, even if the recording is deemed illegal, the officer will still get in trouble with his/her department instead of ruling that the recording was unconstitutional.
I understand that there are officers who need to work on their attitudes, but take the number of police officers in this country and group them together. Of course out of hundreds of thousands you're going to find employees who need attitude adjustments. Working in an office of 15 people you'll find one or two who need adjustments.
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