Are Seattle police body cams covered in Vaseline?

The Seattle Police Department launched a YouTube channel on Wednesday featuring video captured as part of their new body-camera pilot program, only the images of incidents captured are pretty hard to make out.

“I just watched it,” said Tom & Curley Show host John Curley. “It looks like somebody has put Vaseline all over the lens and there is absolutely no sound, just blurry images moving back and forth.”

At first, Curley thought there might be something wrong with his computer.

“Is it just me that I can’t hear it?”

Related: Seattle Police Department launches body cam YouTube channel

But indeed the sound has been removed from all the videos as part of the department’s effort to increase transparency while respecting citizens’ privacy by redacting potentially sensitive material, like clear images and sound.

Co-host and movie critic Tom Tangney explained the idea to Curley.

“They have to be sound-free so you don’t recognize the voice of John Curley while he’s getting arrested, and then they have to be blurry enough that you can’t recognize the image of John Curley – because that would invade your privacy.”

While seemingly rudimentary, Tom said the YouTube channel actually might be progress.

“This is the first step in them trying to figure out a way to release videos without exposing people to unwanted intrusion into their private lives.”

Tom said they still have some work to do to make the videos useful to people. Also, they’re not very entertaining.

“If you’re expecting ‘Cops,’ you’re going to be sorely disappointed.”