The Mounting Methods of Body Camera

I. Importance of Standardized Wearing

Body cameras are crucial tools in modern law enforcement, and their wearing methods directly relate to the following aspects:

1. Completeness of Recording: Ensure clear and comprehensive documentation of the entire law enforcement interaction process, including the words and deeds of involved parties, the actions of law enforcement officers, and the surrounding environment.

2. Validity of Evidence: Stable and unobstructed footage is a basic requirement for admissible legal evidence. Non-standard wearing may lead to missing or distorted key footage, affecting the evidential weight.

3. Law Enforcement Authority and Credibility: Unified and professional wearing methods demonstrate the standardization and professionalism of the law enforcement team, helping to establish law enforcement authority and enhance public trust.

4. Personnel Safety Guarantee: Correct wearing prevents equipment from falling off or being damaged during intense confrontations, while providing objective factual basis for potential disputes.

II. Analysis of Common Wearing Methods and Their Pros and Cons

Currently, there are three mainstream wearing methods for body cameras:

1. Shoulder Wearing

• Method: Fix the camera to the uniform epaulet or shoulder pocket using a clip.

• Advantages:

• Stable field of view, approximately aligned with the human eye level, effectively reproducing the scene as seen by law enforcement officers.
• Naturally captures the officer’s chest area (e.g., badge number) and hand movements in the footage, reflecting the interactivity of law enforcement.
• Less likely to be knocked off or seized.

• Disadvantages:

• When the body rotates, the lens may not quickly focus on targets to the side or rear.
• For unusually tall or short officers, angle adjustments are required to avoid excessive tilting.

2. Chest Wearing

• Method: Suspend the camera in front of the chest using a lanyard or magnetic device.

• Advantages:

• More neutral shooting angle, reducing the perception of aggressiveness.
• Clearly records close-range communication and item handovers between officers and involved parties.

• Disadvantages:

• Significant equipment shaking during running or strenuous exercise, affecting footage stability.
• May be obstructed by other chest equipment (e.g., walkie-talkies, pockets).

3. Brim/Head Wearing

• Method: Fix the camera to the brim of the duty cap using a dedicated clip.

• Advantages:

• Strongest "first-person perspective"; the lens always follows the officer’s line of sight, capturing targets most directly.
• Particularly suitable for scenarios requiring frequent head turns, such as traffic control and crowd management.

• Disadvantages:

• Frequent and rapid head movements can cause footage dizziness, hindering playback viewing.
• Camera angle may shift due to loose or adjusted caps.
• Risk of the camera being torn off along with the cap during conflicts.

III. Standardized Wearing Recommendations

1. Preferred Position: Shoulder wearing shall be the standard method. The device should be fixed at the root of the left or right epaulet, with the lens facing forward and slightly tilted downward to ensure the lower edge of the footage captures the officer’s hand movements.

2. Angle Calibration: After wearing, officers shall conduct a self-inspection in a safe environment to ensure the lens is unobstructed, the footage is level, and the main front interaction area is covered.