In-View: Use of Body-Worn Camera Footage in After-Action Reports

After-action reviews (AARs) are detailed internal examinations following significant events or critical incidents (e.g., protests, civil unrest demonstrations, police shootings, police ambushes). They serve to identify the positive practices and areas of improvement within an organization’s response with the goal of improving future responses. The 2020 civil unrest events in the United States prompted several cities and police departments to conduct AARs to evaluate law enforcement’s response. Body-worn cameras (BWCs) were integral to these reviews, providing assessors with a firsthand view of the events as they occurred.

This in-view commentary highlights the benefits and considerations of using BWC footage in AARs and provides recommendations for incorporating them in organizational reviews of future significant events. We provide examples of how BWCs were used in AARs from the 2020 protests to support our recommendations.

Read the In-View here.