The Use of Body-Worn Camera by Police Officers During Operation: A Case Study

The use of body-worn camera (BWC) is now an essential policing technology with the mandate of improving transparency, accountability, and collaboration between the public and the police. This study was conducted to investigate the use of BWC by police, including its advantages, drawbacks, and relevance in professional practice. Through qualitative case study research design, data were collected from semi-structured interviews with a total of ten (10) purposively chosen police officers in Ozamiz City who regularly use BWCs during their field operations. Six major themes emerged from the research findings: (1) Enhancement of Transparency, Accountability, and Professionalism, (2) Strengthening of Evidence Collection and Legal Processes, (3) Legal, Ethical, and Privacy Concerns, (4) Technical Limitations of Body-Worn Cameras, (5) Proper and Consistent Use of Body-Worn Cameras, and (6) Awareness of Professional Conduct and Accountability. The findings emphasized the importance of BWCs to enhance transparency, accountability, and ethical policing and to enhance evidence handling and public trust. Despite their positive benefits, challenges from privacy concerns, technical problems, and uneven implementation are still hindrances to their optimal use. The overall conclusion of this research is that BWCs, when well implemented and sustained, can greatly enhance police operations and community relations. Prioritization of explicit policies, ongoing training, standardized deployment, and technical enhancements are encouraged in order to optimize the benefits and facilitate the sustainable application of body-worn cameras within policing.