Body Cameras And Police Shootings

The social media and the public might want police body cam footage release but sometimes it might be to graphic or controversial. Police body cameras have been a topic since the incident with Michael Brown in august of 2014. Police shot and killed an unarmed individual in ferguson, MO, leading to many people wanting cameras on police. Whether the cameras are a good idea or not this paper will explore the facts and sides of police body cameras. Overall body cameras should be required Because they can save the lives of the innocent, keep innocent people from going to jail, and can help a case as more evidence.

Across the country a growing number of legislative departments have been debating about the pros and cons of police body cameras. This paper will further explore benefits, as well as the downfalls of using such devices. This paper will also look at specific cases and examine whether or not body cameras were helpful in various situations. It will examine if they were a deterrent in cases dealing with police brutality and domestic violence. It also looks at how they could be misused and assisting some officers in covering up their corrupt behavior.

There has been a lot of talk lately in the news about police body cameras. Some people agree that body cameras should be used by all police officers, while others disagree and believe that they shouldn’t be used at all. There are some cons to having body cameras but all of the pros outweigh it. Police body cameras should be used in all towns no matter how small because the people will act less aggressive towards officers, they provide truthful evidence that cannot be altered with, and the videos can be stored so if something were to happen, they could be brought up and checked as sort of like a surveillance device.

Today, law enforcement agencies, or more specifically police officers, are under constant scrutiny from their peers as well as outside sources. Many of these problems arise from how the police treat and deal with these citizens. There is however a solution to these problems, which can not only improve officer safety, but can also protect anyone else that the officer encounters. The solution to this problem is officer mounted camera systems, or better known as body cameras. These body cameras capture almost everything an officer see’s as well as hears. This allows for protection against a police officer as well as protection for a citizen who was scrutinized for something he or she might have done or not. Body cameras are ever increasing in policing and have many benefit’s as well as draw backs.

Rialto, California is an example of a city with positive results from the use of body-cameras. In Rialto, police began wearing body-cameras a little less than three years ago. As a result of officers wearing body-cameras, citizens’ complaints against police officers dropped 88 percent and use of force by police officers dropped 60 percent from the previous 12 month period when body-cameras were not in use. Rialto’s police chief said, “When you put a camera on a police officer, they tend to behave a little better, follow the rules a little better. And if the citizen knows the officer is wearing a camera, chances are the citizen will behave a little better” (Lovett).

What is a body worn video? A body worn video, also known as body camera is a video recording system that is typically utilized by law enforcement to record their interactions with the public or gather video evidence at crime scenes, and have been known to increase both officer and citizen accountability. The idea is that a video camera mounted on an officer 's vest or uniform would provide an accurate, objective account of every encounter with a civilian. Ideally, the camera would discourage police misconduct while protecting officers against unfounded civil complaints of brutality or corruption. While the use of body cameras may seem to invade the privacy of officers and the public, officers should wear body cameras because playing body cameras could improve, accountability, behavior, use of force, evidence, and processing and editing.

Moreover, to stop the crime and police brutality, body cameras would not be a bad idea if they were to be taken a step forward. Nancy La Vigne writer of “Body Cameras for Police Could Be One Smart Step” talks about supervisors monitoring the cameras in case an altercation were to happen (6). Nancy also talks about body cameras invading constitutional rights of the citizens. Vigne writes, “Body cameras will capture not just an officers actions, but also those of the citizens with whom they interact – or even individuals walking by or in the background” (Vigne). Nancy’s point is that with the body cameras and civilians being recorded, should the citizens know they are being recorded. Another solution for the body cameras to be able to work would be for the cops to have no access to the cameras.

"Obama calls for police body cameras in wake of Ferguson" On December 1st through the 2nd of 2014 these were the words included in two prominent news programs including CNN and NBC. This headline along with the stories that they carried insinuated that the president's decision to implement funding for body worn cameras came from the situation of Ferguson. Ferguson is the case of an 18 year old African American male by the name of Michael Brown on August 9, 2014 Michael Brown was shot and killed by a white police officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson Missouri. The shooting and killing of Michael Brown prompted protest for many weeks due to the fact that he was unarmed and had been shot six times by the police officer. This incident raised questions by the public as to why young Michael Brown was shot six

In todays society, American citizens are unpleased with the law enforcement officers. These officers are here protecting the people of America, and to get the people doing the wrong things off the street so the rest of the people can be safe. In the past few months, there have been shootings of American citizens, and shootings of law enforcement officers. The people of society are only seeing the bad side of police officers, and never understand the whole story when needed to be heard. As the internet continues to expand, the promises it makes is beyond human understanding (Carr 56). The internet and television are the most complex form of technology, and only portray the bad side of cops. “The idea of multimedia is to combine text, sound, and pictures in a single package that you browse on screen” (Gelernter 97). The idea of body cameras put in the uniforms of the law enforcement officers has been talked about, so that everyone can see the exact truth of the situation. The idea of body cameras for the law enforcement officers has it benefits and drawbacks. I think having the body cameras will greatly benefit the law enforcement officers in society today and in the future.

Interesting question! I strongly believe that every police officer has its own mind whether it's good intentions or bad. At the end of the day a unions job is to protect all their employees jobs. Since there is a high rate of police brutality going on, I believe that every police department should invest into body cameras so that every officers actions can be justified. Such as, punishment for brutal behavior, legitimate complaints by the citizens and misunderstandings throughout the media. If body cameras are not assigned to police officers, police brutality will continue while being protected by the unions and it will be impossible to bring officers to justice. I strongly believe that the only time a union should interact officers Is

There has been many situations in which police officers have abused their power. In these cases police officers have brutally beaten or killed innocent civilians. Everyone has heard about a story about how police officers have abused their power by utilising their personal beliefs rather than the reason their profession requires. Some officers cannot disunify their professional life from their personal life. Their identity is distinguished by their uniform. Any struggles in their exclusive life are seen as a threat to their dominance, jurisdiction, or power over the other person and the situation. It is either ethical or unethical. There is no accommodation for the victim to voice their opinion or position. Situations like these are known as Ferguson trails, Floyd Dent, Najee Rivera, and etc. These people have either lost their life or been physically abused. Police officers should wear body cameras because with body cameras it protects others, protects officers, and proves the reality of the actual situation.

The Effect of Police Body Cameras in Society The implementation of body cameras in law enforcement has increased recently. The body cameras have had a positive impact on society. These devices have helped in the process of investigation of cases and with the protection of all citizens. The body cameras that police have decreased the likeliness of crime occurring because the individuals know they are being recorded.

A literary review on should police officers wear body camera was conducted to illustrate how at the ending of the great depression, police officers was given an examination of the key points on discretions to determine the types of restraints to utilize. Four keywords was used in this literary review. First brutality, the Federal Government does not condone brutality among law enforcement, therefore the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Street Act of 1968 is strictly enforce. Secondly, excessive force is discretionary and is determine by the condition of the approached officer and obedience of the citizen. The discretionary decision of the police or law enforcement officers is always for making arrests, maintaining order, and defending life (Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2015), which in turn may not always benefit both the citizen nor the law enforcer. Thirdly, discretionary is the law enforcers approach to enforce the safety and constitutional right of every citizen and person involved. The fourth key word reasonably, the police administration is given an reasonable opportunity to assist in the reforming the policy, laws and orders given and grant a fighting

The community will feel more trustful towards the police and the work they do if they have the body cameras that can support their work. The police department in Rialto, California has received 88 percent less complaints since using body cameras than those not using body cameras (Police Body).

“If officer and citizens are being watched, we are both more liable to do the right thing” (Josh). If a police pulled you over and you noticed a camera on them, would it change your future actions? Many people say it would, and I agree. People tend to change their attitude and whole demeanor if they know they are being videoed or watched. That is why I think police officers should be forced to wear a body camera at all times while at work.