Should Police Officers Wear Body Cameras

There has been some debate on the matter of whether or not law enforcement officials should wear body cameras or not. Law enforcement officers should wear body-worn cameras because it will help the officers while on patrol and the offender while being arrested or stopped. This topic has been debated for a long period of time. It really came to light when Michael Brown, an 18 year old african american boy, was shot and killed in August of 2014 by Officer Wilson, in Ferguson, Missouri.

Within recent years there has been much controversy surrounding police officers and whether or not they should be wearing body cameras to document their everyday interactions with the public. While the use of body cameras may seem to invade the public or police privacy. Police-worn body cameras will be beneficial to law enforcement and civilians all over the world. Police must be equipped with body cameras to alleviate any doubt in the effectiveness of officers. Law enforcement worn body cameras would enhance the trust of the public by keeping both the officers and the citizens accountable for their actions, providing evidence, and helping protect them from false accusations, while protecting privacy

Police officers should have to be required to wear body cameras to ensure the safety of the citizens and to provide evidence for a court case. Many times the police have gotten away with too many things and commit crimes that go unnoticed It’s time we put a stop to that and we make a change. With the use of body cameras that police force would be more trustworthy, they wouldn’t commit crimes, and they would be able to supply the court with undisputable evidence.

In today 's society, one highly debatable topic is whether or not law enforcement agents should wear body cameras. Most cameras used by law enforcement agencies across the country record audio and video, therefore, the cameras see and hear nearly everything a law enforcement officer does. There are many advantages to law enforcement personnel using body cameras while on duty because it holds the officers accountable, is used to document the contact made between the officers and the victims and/or suspects, supports the “use of force” action, keeps the officers and citizens honest, and the videos can even be used for training for other officers.

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

Historically speaking, authorities of the law were never in a position where their professional duties and their character as a public servant of the law were demeaned in a way that there needs to be constant surveillance of them and the people whom they come into contact with. There was never a need of documenting every encounter you had with a civilian before. In this day in age, things have certainly changed, and the past has always been something society likes to change and make better even if it raises concerns. Due to all the violent police stories that has surfaced in the past decade, the idea of having police officers wear video cameras as a part of their uniform while on duty has resulted in a radically divergent account of society’s future. The law may uphold cops to wear cameras while working, but is this really the best decision? This topic is very controversial and may create issues with cops and the civilians they try and protect in the future.

Police officers should wear body cameras at all times on duty because it creates more evidence. Body cameras document everything from witnesses,victims,and suspects. “Perceived benefits that body-worn cameras offer—capturing a video recording of critical incidents and encounters with the public, strengthening police accountability, and providing a valuable new type of evidence—largely outweigh the potential drawbacks. (Ziv). This supports the argument because body cameras will be able to record any incidents and report them with the public. This quote support my big argument because only the officers and the victims knows what going on in a situation. This quote supports the position because now there will be clear evidence in certain

ATMS, cell phones, factories, parking lots, gas stations, supermarkets, and etc. all have cameras, however they do not catch everything. For instance the reality of what happened during the period of Ferguson. Police officers requiring to utilise body cameras should be a necessity. Everyday people are being examined at their profession by cameras. So why cannot police officers wear body cameras? The fact is they can and it will help in a decrease of deaths, crimes, unlawfully convicted people, and more. Body cameras need to be required on police

Cops everywhere are being looked on with hate and disgust. People are feeling threatened by cops even though they are doing their job to protect us and keep our cities safe. Body cameras are an ever growing topic between many parties, but have they looked at it from all sides? Not everyone was there to witness and judge the situation, but the stories are compelling. With cameras we get what happened in audio/visual proof. They can save jobs and give people the proof needed. However cops deserve their privacy. Body cameras should be on cops, but they should be allowed to turn them on or off as they wish.

A police officer can fib on a report about a shooting that probably wasn’t even the victims fault and you would never know. Now that body cameras have come about, police officers would be foolish to deceit the public. Police officers should be required to wear body cameras because they will lessen the number of complaints made by the people and it will inspire the police to perform better.

Even though body cameras are a good source of evidence: “... Ariel cautions that one innovation, no matter how positive, is unlikely to provide a panacea for a deeply rooted issue such as police legitimacy” (Use of 2). Body worn cameras do bring up the issue of police legitimacy because police can still tamper the footage or say the camera was not recording. Also with every positive impact of body worn cameras there are bad impacts as well. Most officers are required to wear their body camera’s at all times, however the article “Police Cameras” explains how: “In some cases, officers have turned off the devices, and events have not been recorded” (Police Cameras 2). Officers should not have the option to wear body worn cameras.

The high rising crime of police officers abusing their powers in America is bringing up the controversy of whether police officers should wear body cameras or not. All police officers should wear body cameras to enhance their relations with the community, and everyone will behave better.

This past May (2015), due to recent tense police-community relations, the Obama administration initiated a government program to evaluate the effectiveness of having the police force wear body cameras. The very public incidents that have occurred ignited accusations of police brutality and as a result, the call for police body cameras is one government action in response to these accusations. The theory being that all people, even those in official capacities, behave differently when they know they are being watched. The importance of deploying police body cameras is significant for society and for the police force as it is viewed as a means towards re-establishing a trusted police-community relationship. My conviction is for the public to regain confidence in our police force that provide for our safety and protection. The undisputed objective is for efficient execution of criminal laws and the administration of criminal justice. This paper will examine initial data reported from studies conducted that support the claims that police body cameras have the potential to reduce the following: public complaints against police, police use of force, and reduction of prosecutions, as physical evidence is lacking to support the crime proposed as committed. If these statistics hold true, it may be possible to re-establish a trust with the police, and the public can look to the police for their safety and protection.

Police should wear body cameras to help protect themselves and the laws they serve. Police are sworn to protect and serve the public. These devices serve no other purpose than to monitor officer’s doing their job.

The Government thinks that the policemen should wear the expense on the grounds since it could restore trust. I think getting police officers to wear body cameras wouldn't be a huge risk but it will be an improvement for society, it could be a huge positive change but then there are problems in this situation. Police officers should wear body cameras because we would have more security and less violence and both the police and individuals will behave knowing that they are being recorded. . I believe that getting police officers to wear body cameras would make a change because it will make the members of the public safer especially if they know that they’re being watched. This would also get police officers to be more professional on their job and be more careful of their actions. I also believe that these body worn cameras would help instil trust in the public definitely. The cameras will minimize the complaints about officers that use unnecessary force or inappropriate behavior from the officer or the residence. Unlike people, the cameras are unable to lie so they will protect any false accusations, misconduct and abuse against officers