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Back to To the Point

To the Point

Dash cams, body cams and unintended consequences

High-profile cases of questionable killings and other alleged misbehavior have police departments mounting cameras on patrol cars and on cops themselves. The idea is public "transparency."  But Seattle had 300,000 hours of dash-cam footage — enough to keep 170 people busy for a year in response to a court order.

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By Warren Olney • Nov 22, 2016 • 33m Listen

High-profile cases of questionable killings and other alleged misbehavior have police departments mounting cameras on patrol cars and on cops themselves. The idea is public "transparency." But Seattle had 300,000 hours of dash-cam footage — enough to keep 170 people busy for a year in response to a court order. Body cams don't provide surveillance of the police -- it's the mostly innocent people they talk to. Should those interviews become public? Who should make the rules and implement the decisions day-to-day?

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    Warren Olney

    former KCRW broadcaster

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    Jenny Hamel

    KCRW

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    Paul von Zielbauer

    Producer, 'To the Point'

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    Evan George

    Director of Content, News

  • KCRW placeholder

    McKenzie Funk

    journalist and author

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    Chad Marlow

    ACLU

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    Malkia Cyril

    Center for Media Justice / Black Lives Matter

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