Big Brother watches CSI

[RM1023]

So our boss decided that surveillance cameras are needed in our office. We found out by having workers come in and scout around for camera locations... The reasoning is that since there are latents on the desks, it is evidence that needs to be watched. We work for the city so this is kind of a public building, but we think this is going a bit too far. Is this a common thing in other offices? We don't know of any other agency that does that. Are we just overreacting?

[Tazman]

I have it on good authority from Edward Snowden that your boss is actually an undercover operative for the NSA.

[Alan C]

Our latent unit is in a secured area and that seems to be sufficient so far without security cameras everywhere.

[josher89]

Our office has cameras in almost every area we work including offices, hallways and labs (not in break room, conference room, or bathrooms) and after a while, you just forget about them. We are in our own separate building that has secure access that even our deputies can't enter without us escorting them around. The cameras were placed to 'prove' that something didn't happen if an allegation was made although they can be monitored at any time. None have audio either. I'm not worried; if 'they' (insert NSA operative here) want to watch me do my thing and maybe even catch me picking my nose or something, that's fine with me. They'll be bored in no time.

Initially I felt like we were bad employees that needed to be watched over constantly. Now, I just don't care.

If you are concerned, you need to make sure you take it up with your union or bargaining group to ensure that they can't be used solely for disciplinary reasons. In other words, something else must happen before they can use the video against you. Many agencies that use GPS on cruisers have it written their contract that it alone can't be used for disciplinary reasons (i.e. the shift sergeant can't monitor the locations of the deputies and wait for one to speed and then write them up; the deputy that was speeding would have to wreck or cause a wreck then the GPS speed would be used for disciplinary reasons).

PM me if you want more of my thoughts offline.

[RM1023]

That sounds like good advice. We haven't gone to our union yet because we aren't sure what exactly is getting installed i.e. video only or both video and audio recording.