Questions have begun to emerge regarding the potential utility of BWCs for specialized units in a police department, such as K9, traffic, tactical, gang, and undercover units. Given the near-sole focus on patrol, the role of specialized units in BWC deployment is often overlooked. Further, the advantages, disadvantages, and challenges associated with BWCs may be very different for specialized units than for patrol. There is little to no guidance on this issue from either the academic literature or police leadership organizations (e.g., the International Association of Chiefs of Police [IACP]).

The authors explore this issue through focus groups conducted with officers assigned to specialized units in the Spokane (WA) and Tempe (AZ) Police Departments. The authors interviewed officers from more than 15 different specialized units, collecting their perceptions on a wide range of issues tied to BWCs.  Based on the officer’s responses, the authors propose five recommendations for agency to contemplate when deploying BWCs to specialized units.

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