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Benefits Of Police Surveillance At A Police Officer Shooting

Decent Essays

Stevens 1
Brandon Stevens
Mr. Serson Block 2 B/D
H English 10
April 17, 2015

Benefits of Police Surveillance Have you ever wondered how police can always catch the “bad guys” so quickly? What about who is found guilty/non-guilty in a police officer shooting? With all the advancements in technology within the past decade, there should be no reason not to catch these bad guys so quickly, as well as no reason not to find the proper person guilty or non-guilty. As a citizen, one should want the highest level of protection and security possible from the police. But on the other hand, some people (and even police officers!) don’t want the feeling of constant privacy invasion. Some call this a form of “Big-Brotherism” (Volokh) as if they were …show more content…

With these cameras, no one can be mistakenly accused of murder because all of the proof lies right on the police officers chest. At least 60% of local police use cameras on the dashboard and its unclear how many are currently using chest cameras (Vicens). Chest cameras are in the range of $100-$1000 which is relatively cheap compared to dashboard cameras that can cost upwards of several thousand dollars. The problem with cameras on dashboards is that they don’t capture footage of a foot pursuit or when the police cruiser is abandoned to approach someone on foot. These body cameras are not only cheaper, but are more effective when it comes down to “who shot who” situations or situations that take place in an unmonitored area. Some police departments and officers are against these body cameras for many reasons though. According to Chief David Rahinsky of Grand Rapids Police Department, he has no intention of body cameras anytime soon. Rahinskys main concern is the constant filming of the public and the hazards of recording children, as well as sexual assault/domestic violence victims. Rahinsky also stated “if people know they are being recorded, they won’t be willing to share information needed to solve a case”. The chief didn’t totally rule out the use of body cameras sometime in the future, but he said he “needs more information about when they’ll be activated, how long the

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