Illinois police sue town, claim body cameras record nonstop

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Illinois police sue town, claim body cameras record nonstop

Updated 2:16 pm, Saturday, June 25, 2016

ROUND LAKE PARK, Ill. (AP) — Ten police officers in a Chicago suburb are suing the town, claiming the body cameras they wore never turned off and recorded them using the restroom and changing clothes.

The lawsuit filed Thursday in federal court says one of the officers in Round Lake Park, Dominick Izzo, discovered the problem while reviewing video from his camera in May.

According to the Chicago Tribune (http://trib.in/292Lgff ), the lawsuit says the cameras recorded thousands of "highly offensive and voyeuristic intrusions," including video that showed officers' genitals. The videos dated to at least February, according to the lawsuit.

The officers were "humiliated, embarrassed and greatly upset," according to the lawsuit. The officers are seeking $100,000 each.


Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Illinois-police-sue-town-claim-body-cameras-8324870.php

[cstanleytech]

1. Why do I suspect that what they really want is to get rid of the cameras for good?

[forgotmylogin]

2. Maybe they'll understand how humiliating it can be on camera

and think of that in how they treat people they deal with.

If they're going to change clothes, all they have to do is temporarily put a post it over the camera, or point the camera out of the way, or throw a towel over the camera until they're done.

[yeoman6987]

7. Nobody should be taped changing clothes or going to the bathroom

I don't care who you are. I hope they win this. The cameras need improved to not tape those two events period.

[PatSeg]

15. I agree

The fact that no one informed them that the cameras wouldn't go off is highly disturbing.

[cstanleytech]

18. Not arguing with you there but they could have easily put post it notes, bandaids or tape over it

when using the restroom and changing clothes i just dont buy that they were clueless enough not to know that the cameras were on and thus I dont believe this is so much as them being filmed rather I think this is more about them trying to resist their being used at all.

[yeoman6987]

19. True but I think it's up to the supervisors to fix this and not the workers.

[cstanleytech]

20. Ya but think about it. You are given a body camera and told it records everything when worn

and you dont realize that means it records "everything"? I just dont buy that they were that clueless.

[roamer65]

3. Hard for them to take bribes when they are running all the time.

[bluestateguy]

4. If they're not doing anything wrong, they should have nothing to worry about

(I'm sure they are familiar with that line of argument)

[LisaL]

11. You don't do anything wrong when you are using the restroom either.

Doesn't mean you would want that to be recorded.

[NWCorona]

17. Yeah the part about it catching genitals is a big no, no for me.

[Jeb Bartlet]

5. According to the Chicago PD

website they are using the Wolfcom police body cameras which have the ability for the officer to turn the unit on and off. No clue why they would be suing when they are in control of when it's on and when it's off unless this is not about them being photographed peeing but about trying to get rid of bodycams recording them committing crimes.

[rpannier]

6. It isn't the Chicago PD, nor is it Wolfcom. per the article

The cameras are sold by Enforcement Video, LLC, of Allen, Texas. Company spokeswoman Jaime Carlin said the cameras are always recording unless disabled, something the company says it trains police how to do.

They should have or have been trained in how to turn them off.

[LisaL]

12. Read the article.

Cameras were recording even in off position.

[MrScorpio]

8. I fail to see the problem here. nt

[LisaL]

14. Maybe you are fine being taped while using the restroom.

But most people don't feel that way.

[Ash_F]

9. "the cameras were still recording when off or in sleep mode."

Sounds like a bug.

[LisaL]

13. No, they were designed that way.

In order to stop recording, cameras would have to be "disabled" whatever that means.

[Ash_F]

16. Then what is the difference between being "off" and "disabled"?

What is the difference between "off" and "on"?

[midnight]

10. "Officers were told to turn them on during traffic stops and other enforcement activities."

However the police were not able to turn them off ever? Hopefully this will be addressed in this lawsuit.

[wildbilln864]

21. so put a freaking piece of tape over the lens temporarily.

Good fucking grief. I'm glad they can't cut them off to commit crimes like they've been doing.