The Eyes Have It! Functional Field of View Differences Between Visual Search Behavior and Body-Worn Camera During a Use of Force Response in Active-Duty Police Officers

Abstract: Although officer body-worn cameras (BWCs) have improved transparency of police interactions within the community, BWCs have a limited field of view, are subject to bias, and do not account for the factors that influence rapid decision-making by officers, including their visual attentional control and perceptual processes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the camera perspective of six critical incidents and position data from BWC compared to eye tracking and head movement data in a use-of-force scenario from 44 active-duty police officers. The analysis of gyroscope and accelerometer data demonstrated low correlations between eye cameras and BWC position data. Officers attended 80.5% of all critical incidents, whereas BWC view captured only 66.2%, especially missing key events (<48%). BCW footage did not account for the visual information and the behaviors of the suspect, potential threats, and bystanders who influence the officers’ decision-making during the use of force encounters.