Page 43 - PCPA Winter 2024 Bulletin Magazine

HOW THE PITTSBURGH BUREAU OF POLICE BOOSTED
ACCOUNTABILITY AND BODY-WORN CAMERA COMPLIANCE
Assistant Chief Ragland spearheaded efforts to make
the data actionable, using Axon Performance insights
to commend officers who adhered to BWC protocols.
Recognizing and sharing positive examples among the
team began to shift attitudes. As officers saw the benefits
of BWCs in their work and received recognition for using
them effectively, initial fears and concerns started to
diminish. “Transparency and data-driven insights helped
ease initial fears,” explained Chief Scirotto.
Building Trust and Shaping a Positive Culture
A key element of PBP’s approach was fostering a culture of
transparency. Leadership not only monitored compliance
but shared Axon Performance insights regularly with
officers to create a sense of healthy accountability. The
approach wasn’t punitive; instead, it emphasized support
and positive reinforcement. By highlighting real success
stories, officers could see how BWCs contributed to
accurate documentation of interactions and fair resolutions
of complaints.
Detective Shane Welsh, a PBP officer, admitted he was
initially skeptical of BWCs but ultimately became a strong
advocate. By consistently demonstrating how BWCs
protected officers and provided transparency, PBP shifted
the perception of the technology from an oversight tool to
a valuable asset.
department. In addition, the department reported a higher
rate of complaint exonerations, as video evidence allowed
for more accurate assessments of officer conduct. This
rise in compliance also had the side benefit of generating
camaraderie among officers, who began to view their
activation rates as a point of pride.
The Axon Performance dashboard played a role in
this transformation, visualizing performance data in
an intuitive, accessible format. Officers could see their
statistics and compare them with their peers, adding
an element of friendly competition. “We want those pie
charts to be green and not red,” Welsh said. “If I was back
on patrol, nothing would make me happier than to show
my peers my numbers. It gives you an opportunity to be
proud, poke fun, and support each other to do better, and
that’s what the Chief wants.”
Tangible Results: A Cultural Shift
and Rising Activation Rates
Within the first year of implementing Axon Performance,
PBP saw results. Activation rates surged from 35% to
65%, a leap that speaks to the cultural shift within the
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Using Data to Drive Policy and Training
Axon Performance also enabled leadership to take a
proactive approach in adjusting policies and training
based on real-time data. By identifying officers struggling
with consistent activation, PBP could facilitate training
and open dialogue around best practices, reinforcing
expectations and providing support where needed. This
data-driven insight allowed PBP to refine its BWC policies
over time, ensuring that guidelines remained relevant and
achievable.
Assistant Chief Ragland sees Axon Performance as part
of a broader technological ecosystem that empowers
PBP. “The Axon ecosystem has all the puzzle pieces,” he
noted, pointing to Axon Performance as a key component
in building a culture of transparency, accountability, and
continuous improvement within the department.
Conclusion
PBP’s success with Axon Performance demonstrates
how technology, combined with positive leadership,
can improve compliance and foster a proactive culture
around BWCs. PBP’s journey highlights how BWCs, when
adopted thoughtfully, can become a source of pride and
professionalism for officers and contribute to a more
transparent relationship with the public.
By focusing on accountability and the benefits of BWC
use, PBP created an environment where officers actively
supported each other to meet standards. This shift
underscores the potential for technology-driven solutions,
like Axon Performance, to modernize policing and
strengthen trust within the communities they serve.
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WINTER 2024 BULLETIN