Argumentative Essay On Body Cameras

The department would like to address the city council to take into recommendation of the new policy change of the body worn cameras by the police officers of this city. The city of Tampa already has a policy on body worn cameras. Body worn cameras can be highly effective in evidence gathering, prosecution of crimes, protecting officers from accusations and showing police officer activity. At this point in time body worn cameras are only given out to officers when they are available. The reason for the department to initiate the changes of the body worn cameras policy is to better the police officers of this department and the community members.

Not having body cameras in the line of duty is becoming an issue, legally and ethically, for both officers and citizens. Body cameras show the objective perspective of police in the field, and show everything that occurred, whether it reflects positively or negatively on the officer. There is not much evidence yet on the effect body cameras have. However, one study that was done shows positive feedback from the use of body cameras. In Rialto, California, a study was conducted and showed that use of force by police officers and complaints by citizens were dramatically decreased after they began to use

There have been many incidents in the past couple years that have dealt with police misconduct. Police should wear body mounted cameras to reduce the cases of officers getting away with any misconduct, and to also provide more evidence to the case. Stats have shown that police were less likely to use unneeded force when wearing a body mounted camera. Stats also showed that civilians complaints of police misconduct also lowered when police were wearing cameras. In many cases Body Mounted Cameras have helped provide more evidence, which has helped the right decision be made. My final supporting solution is that civilians are more in favor of police officers wearing Body Mounted Cameras than against it.

In the past couple years the media has been focusing a lot of its attention on police officers. Sadly they make police officers out to be horrible people who act solely on their hatred for certain races, but in reality police officers are there for the safety of the citizens. In any profession there will be people who are there for the wrong reasons, and this is true for police officers as well. Although most police officers focus on the safety and wellbeing of the citizens, some police officers are in for their own selfish and personal reasons. As a result they act immoral and unethical. These are what the media calls bad cops. Because of the misconduct of a few police officers, the public now proposes police officers wear body cameras. The use of body cameras proves to be a valuable asset in the incrimination of justice because of its many benefits, few downsides, and overall public approval.

Fortunately for me, I was able to compile an ample amount of research from my Anointed Bibliography, however, it lacked crucial data, more so, the thoughts of law enforcement officers in my local community. My plan of attack focuses on the views of both the police and the public about body-worn police cameras. I shall create surveys in which I intend on distributing throughout three random neighborhoods of various economic and social backgrounds which includes poor, middle class, and wealthy communities in and around the Phoenix area. I plan to survey at least twenty-five people from each neighborhood by on going door to door in the communities which will be determined at a later date. The surveys will consist of five closed ended yes or no questions that include; Question 1: At this time, are you happy with the police and policing they do in your community? Question 2: Do you think that body-worn police cameras help the police, the people in their community or both? Question 3: Would you like to see police in your community implement a body-worn camera policy if they do not already have one in place? Question 4: Have you ever had any encounters with the police? Question 5: If you answered yes to Question4, Do you believe that had the officer been required to wear a body-worn camera, the encounter would have turned out differently for the better, worse or the same outcome?

Improving accountability and transparency, body cameras aid in deescalating situations between citizens and officers. Ariel favored body cameras “For this reason, body cameras record everything and relay unbiased evidence. They increase transparency, heighten accountability, and keep the actions of all parties in check. In results to this police-public interaction becomes less heated with public. Police officers are more cautious and risk averse when wearing body cameras”

Many Americans have thought about the law enforcement’s limits as it has been brought to people’s attention due to the media. Ideas, such as body cameras used by police, have been debated since it became a realistic option. Body cameras are devices that would be placed on an officer’s body or uniform and turned on when an officer is on duty or approaching a civilian. The technology would be used to determine if excessive force was used when subduing a criminal. Social media has played an enormous part in why the topic of body cameras is being disputed.

If police wore body cameras the people could see what goes on in their day, not just the ugly parts that the media shows. Police officers are just people like everyone else, but they have a job and that job isn’t the most appealing. But not all of them are evil. If they wore body cameras, we could see their interactions with other officers and the public. We associate the police with being pigs and bad people, but it’s

Body cameras in policing are still new, but more and more agencies are beginning to implement this technology into their line of work. At first police officers were very hesitant to wear these body cameras because they were afraid they would infringe themselves and give away their own privacy. Later, as body cameras were beginning to see more use in the work place, officers began to realize that these very own body cameras that they once thought would only cause themselves harm would actual prove to be useful in a variety of situations. Some of these situations can be citizen complaints, to even backing up an officers use of force. Body cameras can be the one sole thing that can give

Public Wants Body Cameras on Police Officers Every eight hours an American is killed by a police officer (“Stats”). There have been plenty of conversations on whether or not police should be required to have body cameras. Many people agree that this is something that should be considered. Some causes of the public wanting police body cameras is due to the latest events of police brutality, for their own safety, and so that they will have evidence of their innocence in similar situations.

In February 2012, the Rialto California police department started supplying their officers with cameras they could clip on to their uniforms. At any given time, about half of their active duty officers wore these cameras. They found, in a twelve month period, that the department overall "had an 88 percent decline in the number of complaints filed against the officers". (Stross, R. 2013, April 6). They also had a 60 percent decline in the use of force by officers. They also found that officers wearing a camera were half as likely to use force as oppose to officers not wearing one. This is clear evidence that police wearing body cameras is a good

Others are questioning if we should actually be putting our police officers under such a massive microscope. Retorting phrases such as, how are they going to do their jobs with people over their shoulders? Body cams have been distributed to some police departments in different many different counties and states, but they are not mandatory. I believe officers should wear body cams, for the sake of the accused and the officer. People propose body cams as a solution to the problem.

Body cameras are proven to make policemen act better while they’re are on duty. “Police officers "tend to behave a little better"(Kon, Body Cameras for Police Officers). if they know their behavior is being recorded on camera” stated author Tsin Yen Kon. Police will act better cause they know they are being “watched”. Just like when a student has a parent to sit in their class, they act very well, police do the same. Police will also act right, because they don’t want to lose their jobs or get fired because some careless mistake that they made while on camera. “When police officers are acutely aware that their behavior is being monitored (because they turn on the cameras), and when officers tell citizens that the cameras are recording their behavior, everyone behaves better” (Knickerbocker). Brad Knickerbocker, the author, explains how both sides of the camera, police, and criminal will have an effect on their behavior because they know that they are being watched, and recorded. When people know they are being watched, it is like they get scared, because they don't want anything to be used against them. Although cameras will make police act better, people will still think that police brutality will still happen.

“In the first year after the camera 's introduction, the use of force by officers’ decline 60%, and citizens’ complaints against police fell 88%”. (Christopher Mims) The introduction of police body cameras impacted the world in many better ways than bad. But, police body cameras were introduced due to the public 's awareness to police brutality and numerous of publicity deaths which has impacted the outcome of police interactions.

Ronald Reagan once said, “Trust, but verify.” As a result of controversy behind police brutality, it is becoming increasingly important to inform ourselves on the exact details of this rising issue. My purpose for writing this letter today is because something needs to be done that will allow the government to ensure that officers and citizens are responding properly towards the law. I strongly believe that police officers should be equipped with body cameras that would be made mandatory to wear while on duty. There are many valid reasons and facts to support this request that I think you would be interested to hear