Looking Through a Different Lens: Body Cams Improve Public Safety by Capturing and Deterring
Block by Block began testing body cameras about a year ago, bringing an added dimension of security and trust for both the Ambassadors who wear them and the communities they serve.
Based on the success and lessons learned from pilot deployments, body-worn cameras are now standard issue for Community Response Officers (CROs) with Block by Block’s sister company, Civicity.
Civicity is a human-centered public safety model developed by Block by Block for modern public spaces, including downtowns, entertainment districts, campuses and transit environments.
“Part of using body cams is to raise the bar as far as the professionalism of a security role or a safety role out in the public spaces,” said Steve Saunders, Civicity’s Vice President of Security Strategy. “It really promotes transparency, professionalism and builds public trust. And those are key elements in why you would have body cams on your uniform as you’re out in the public spaces.”
Body cameras support efforts from de-escalating situations to assisting police with investigations, serving as a reliable source of factual information when needed.
“In my experience, body cams do a great job of providing factual information,” Saunders said. “Sometimes when emotions get elevated, interactions can be misinterpreted, but the body camera captures the video and audio exactly as it happened. It’s very unbiased, so it’s a very good tool for that purpose.”
How do Civicity officers wear body cameras?
CROs and Ambassadors wear body cameras on a harness in the center of their chest, so anyone they encounter can see they are recording — an important step in building public trust and creating calm.
Destiny Mosley, Operations Manager for Louisville Downtown Partnership, has seen firsthand how body cameras have helped.
“It really makes the team feel more confident in the work that they’re doing,” Mosley said. “They can focus on their work without questioning their actions because if something happens, it’s all on camera. There’s no question about it. I think it also builds trust within the community because they know we are taking our job seriously.”
Mosley also says body cameras are a valuable training tool for Ambassadors because supervisors can review footage of responses and openly discuss how to better prepare and improve.
The de-escalation benefits of body cams shouldn’t be overlooked, Saunders added. As CROs and Safety Ambassadors with body cameras arrive during a disruptive or unruly gathering, noise and activity tends to calm down.
“People pay attention and are on their best behavior when they see the cameras,” Saunders said. “Then, our team can talk calmly and use their de-escalation skills to address any problems and get help, if needed.”
What kind of cameras do Block by Block and Civicity use?
While Ambassadors use various versions of body cameras, Civicity CROs are equipped with Halos units as part of their standard uniform equipment.
The high-quality cameras sync with the company’s SMART system and upload video in real time. The SMART System is Block by Block’s proprietary data collection and accountability platform. Footage stored in SMART can be shared with company leaders, partners or authorities.
With real time access, Operations Managers are able to better support Ambassadors and CROs remotely, even while a response is underway.
“If something is happening in the field, even if it’s not an emergency, we can pull up live footage and guide them through the situation, “Mosely said.
Body cameras have also helped Block by Block and Civicity better tell the story of the work being done in the communities they serve.
“It’s an advantage for our customers, too. They see us out working, and we can show them the evidence of what we do,” Saunders said “Sometimes that work is challenging — interacting with individuals facing mental health or substance abuse issues, or those in need of serious intervention. We can share that confidentially with our customers to validate both the importance and impact of our work.”
As body camera technology continues to evolve, it’s clear these devices are not only a tool for safety but also a critical part of building trust, improving performance and strengthening the connection between Block by Block, Civicity and the communities we serve.