Imagine cruising through a neighborhood at high speed on a motorcycle with a police car in pursuit. This scenario turned tragic in Onalaska when a 33-year-old man, ignoring police commands to stop, collided with an SUV. The incident, captured on video, resulted in the motorcyclist’s death at the scene, as confirmed by paramedics. This video has since become the most viewed content on a prominent YouTube channel dedicated to police footage, garnering over 21 million views. Its title, “Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Run from the Police,” leaves little to the imagination about its cautionary intent.
The channel, Code Blue Cam, is based in Wisconsin and boasts a subscriber base of more than 3 million, with total views exceeding 1.15 billion. The platform is a repository of videos showcasing high-speed pursuits, arrests involving intoxicated individuals, and other intense police encounters. These clips are sourced from police body cameras, edited to highlight dramatic moments, and presented with an added layer of commentary and sound effects.
Despite stating its mission as educational, Code Blue Cam has faced criticism for allegedly prioritizing sensationalism over content that truly informs the public. The channel’s creator, LJ, who remains anonymous for privacy and safety reasons, insists that the videos are meant to provide context on police work. However, some viewers and those featured in these videos feel otherwise, citing examples of content that seems to ridicule rather than educate.
The channel’s financial success is significant. According to VidIQ, a site that tracks YouTube analytics, Code Blue Cam earns approximately $100,000 monthly from its video content. Additionally, the channel features affiliate links to products such as security and dash cameras, further supplementing its income.
Code Blue Cam has evolved into a media company with a team of twelve, including editors and writers. It has even collaborated with the Wisconsin Professional Police Association (WPPA), the state’s largest law enforcement organization. LJ has contributed financially to the WPPA, supporting initiatives like a museum dedicated to law enforcement heroes.
WPPA Executive Director Jim Palmer acknowledges receiving inquiries about potential collaborations with YouTube channels. After reviewing Code Blue Cam, Palmer perceived the channel’s educational mission as complementary to WPPA’s goals, despite some public perception to the contrary.
Videos show ‘rock bottom’ for some arrestees
For those who find themselves on the other side of the camera, the experience can be life-altering. Videos depicting their lowest moments are broadcast to millions, often including personal details like real names and arrest circumstances. Researcher Matthew Clark referred to such exposure as hitting “rock bottom” for individuals involved.
One Wisconsin mother, whose arrest was featured on the channel, shared how the video had a damaging impact on her personal and professional life. LJ maintains that Code Blue Cam selects videos based on their significance, clarity, and the insights they offer into police responses under pressure.
This approach to showcasing police work has roots in the 1990s television show “COPS,” which also aimed to portray the realities of law enforcement, albeit with a less invasive technology than today’s body cams.
Rise of body cams, online video made channels like Code Blue Cam possible
The increase in body camera usage among police departments has facilitated the rise of channels like Code Blue Cam. Following the 2014 shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, there was a significant push for law enforcement to adopt body cameras. This movement was supported by federal funding and led to widespread implementation of the technology.
Today, a majority of police officers and sheriff’s deputies are equipped with body cams, resulting in a surge of footage available for public records requests. In Wisconsin, a law passed in 2024 allows officials to charge for the cost of redacting sensitive information from these records, a move supported by some for its transparency but criticized by others for potential First Amendment implications.
As body cameras become more integral to police work, the content derived from them continues to shape public perceptions of law enforcement. The popularity of channels like Code Blue Cam indicates a growing appetite for such material, despite ongoing debates about its impact and intent.
