The Hidden Truth: How Bodycam Footage Fails to Hold Police Accountable

Bodycams were intended to promote accountability and transparency in law enforcement, but their footage is routinely withheld by police departments to prevent public scrutiny of misconduct. Police departments have been given the power to control what is recorded, who can access the footage, and when it is released. This lack of transparency has allowed officers to evade discipline for documented abuses and has hindered investigations into police misconduct. As a result, the public remains unaware of the majority of incidents involving police use of force, including the 28 killings by NYPD officers this year.