DALLAS, Texas -- David Hammock still can't believe what played out on police dash cam video, when he was arrested recently for DWI, even though he was sober.
"I was telling the officer that I wasn't under the influence of alcohol and at the time it wasn't enough," said the Dallas father.
Hammock believes the police video that shows him being given a field sobriety test should have been enough for supervisors to realize that there had been violations of policy. Police officials say procedures were followed, but Hammock says he was unfairly tested on a sloped road.
"What other evidence did they need."
To help sort out fact from fiction, Dallas police videos will now be routinely scrutinized by a new unit. The DVR Review Team will begin work this week, looking at videos for mistakes and misconduct.
The formation of the panel follows several incidents captured on camera. In one case, a rookie officer berates an NFL player who is headed to the bedside of his dying relative. Some say the review panel is necessary.
"I think it will be important for law enforcement to want to have a review system like this," former prosecutor, John Teakell, said.
Teakell says the review panel will help commanders monitor how officers are doing their jobs, but he says the system has to work.
"I think these policies need to be established to make sure the cameras capture both audio and video."
Recently, Dallas officers were disciplined and could face criminal charges after a beating was caught on tape. Officials say the review will find bad officers, but also help to clear officers who are wrongly accused of misconduct.
No one from the Dallas police department was available for comment.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
