Following the much publicized police shooting of unarmed Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, in August 2014, it has become increasingly popular for citizens to film police activity in an attempt to capture police brutality and misconduct. The so-called “Ferguson/ YouTube Effect” has apparently led officers to not fully perform their duties, fearful of being recorded and portrayed in a bad light. But could this result in an increase in violent crime?

According to FBI director James Comey, this exact thing is occurring. Comey believes police officers feel pressured by the threat of being filmed. To Comey, police are restraining themselves from aggressively enforcing the law as opposed to how they would were they not being filmed. Comey goes on to say that the lack of proper law enforcement has resulted in increased crime rates. Comey’s strong accusation against police departments across the country did come with the disclaimer that there is no substantial proof to support his claims.

During a speech at the University of Chicago Law School, Comey described his allegations as a “chill wind blowing through American law enforcement.” The only slice of evidence Comey has presented is his claim that a police officer had confided in him about the issue. “We feel like we’re under siege, and we don’t feel much like getting out of our cars,” Comey claims his confidant said.”

Comey’s allegations have left some police officers offended and angered that their work ethics are being scrutinized. “Our officers are very, very sensitive to the climate right now, but I haven’t seen any evidence to say our officers aren’t doing their jobs,” reported Oakland, Cal. Police Chief Sean Whent.

Comey’s claim does beg the question: Even if Comey’s speculations are correct, and the “Ferguson/YouTube Effect” is causing an increase in crime, why is it that some police officers feel the need to act overly aggressive during their duty? Police officers should have no qualms about being filmed because they are supposed to be doing their jobs correctly.

On November 24, 2015, a dashcam video from a Chicago police squad car was released showing patrolman Jason Van Dyke shooting 17-year old Laquan McDonald 16 times on Oct. 20, 2014. The video shows McDonald, who was carrying a knife, walking away from the police when Van Dyke opened fire. Though he had fallen from the first shot the officer continued to shoot at McDonald, killing him.

A Cook County judge ordered the Chicago Police Department to make the video public, but its release was delayed 13 months until the investigations of the incident came to a conclusion, leading to accusations of a cover-up by the Chicago police and Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel’s office. The furor led to the dismal of Chicago Police Department Superintendent Garry F. McCarthy.