A) BWC is constantly recording to a circular buffer. It doesn't "start recording" when an officer presses the button; it just writes the buffered data to memory

A) BWC is constantly recording to a circular buffer. It doesn't "start recording" when an officer presses the button; it just writes the buffered data to memory and adds new video data to that file until ~30-60 seconds after the officer ends the event. This has resulted in some amusing footage where actual bad cops plant evidence, then "start" their BWC, and then get fired when the footage is reviewed, released, and goes viral. B) At least for CPD, the main thing BWC footage does is exonerate officers from unfounded complaints. Most officers have really embraced BWC as it regularly shields them from having to pay out on lawsuits. And when footage should exist on an event number but doesn't, that leaves an officer pretty wide open to having to pay out of pocket. C) What instances are you thinking of regarding your claim that cameras are "almost always off whenever something controversial happens"?