Memory Outcomes of Police Officers Viewing Their Body-Worn Camera Video

Does viewing the body-worn camera (BWC) video of an event affect participating officers' memory for the event and their state of mind therein? In two preregistered experiments, experienced police officers participated in an officer involved shooting (OIS) training simulator. In Experiment 1 (N = 61), officers (a) participated in two scenarios, (b) answered questions about each shortly afterward, and (c) answered the same questions later after having viewed their BWC video for one event but not the other. Experiment 2 (N = 64) replicated Experiment 1, comparing one versus three BWC viewings; the number of repetitions had no effect. Viewing BWC video of an event introduced multiple changes in officers' event memory and memory for their state of mind during the event. Given the importance of preserving officers' memory for the original event (Graham v. Connor, 1989), there should be constraints on permitting officers to view their BWC video even after they complete their initial report.