The Pros And Cons Of Body Cameras

Another advantage to law enforcement agents wearing body cameras is to document the contact made between the officer and the victim and/or suspect. This documentation can be used as evidence in

Due to devastating events that have taken place between the police and civilians in 2015, law enforcements are finding it liable for policeman to be suited with body cameras. They believe doing so will begin to hold policeman more accountable for their actions, reduce police brutality and crime, as well as shedding light on the good cops still out here.

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

Officers nationwide are trusted in court, as they swear to uphold the constitution and are professionals who act upon the law. A body camera is simply put in place to support the officers claim. If a peace officer is reported, instead of taking their word, body camera footage can be checked over to see if the officer acted in the wrong or right. Several causes can be false accusations again police officers. With the body camera in effect,

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.

A fairly common recommendation for reducing police misconduct to increase use of body cameras. By recording police-citizen encounters, police supervisors, judges, reporters, and others can get objective evidence of what happened instead of self serving hearsay. Body cameras have been the talk of many police departments among the United States. But not everyone has tried it out or used it yet, as we can see. Body cameras should be used because citizens are being innocently killed by police, officers are being falsely accused of wrongdoing, and it allows for physical proof of evidence.

The other feel side feels that body cameras could be an invaluable tool to help curb the instances of police brutality and unprofessional behavior. By providing evidence either for or against the officer in question through the third eye of the camera. If we want to have greater police transparency body cameras are a good way to begin. Detractors of body cameras feel that the cameras could be misused by law enforcement. Shahin Buttar a constitutional lawyer and executive director of the Bill of Rights Defense Committee.

Police officers should wear body cameras because it will decrease hostility. Body cameras will help to encourage civilians to be less abusive if they are stopped by a cop for any reason. “Everyone is on their best behavior when cameras are running (Ron miller, chief of police, Topeka, Kansas police Department). For example, Keith Scott was shot by the police in North Carolina because the police said he had a gun. However, his wife and other people said he had a book, not a gun. If the police had been wearing body cameras it would have brought up the truth about the

Body cameras can be used for safety to prevent crime. Civilians can think twice before attacking a police officer by knowing everything is being recorded. Even though, civilians, may think body cameras are invading their privacy. The cameras are for safety purposes, and to avoid any police brutality. Also, police officers will not abuse their power of authority, by knowing they have a body camera and it can turn against them.

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”

Why do police officers need body cameras? Body cameras can give proof to a police officers actions if ever need. An untruthful story by either a police officer or citizen can be resolved with body cameras. Thorough debates have been discussed throughout the public about whether a police officer will abuse the body cameras by not turning the camera on. Police should wear body cameras at all times.

(Weisburg) As a result, studies have shown, that citizens have developed comfort towards officers equipped with body cameras. (Fullerton Police Department) This new found trust has the ability to change the mindset of a community in a positive manner. (Mims) This alone could help revive a community such as Ferguson, that has been in shambles ever since Michael Brown was killed. Officer Drumond a highly respected officer at Sherwood said “I support body cameras and find it very comforting that everything I do is on camera”. (Weisburg) If body cameras can give officers a sense of comfort it can help improve their work ethic as well as keep them relaxed while on shift. This can lead to trust between officers and the community. Ultimately, body cameras have the ability to restore trust in a community as well as keep both citizens and officers acting within the law.

Body cameras can hold police officers accountable for their actions, both the good and the bad. “Continuously wearing body cameras would hold police accountable for their appropriate, and inappropriate, conduct” (Buam). Also when the citizens make accusations they could pull the video from the camera and see whether the police officer did what they said they did or not. “Video recorded by body cams protect any false accusations, misconduct, or abuse

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

Much interest in the technology of the body cameras comes from a growing problem that the United States has been having a major problem with police violence. Though some might argue that the wearing of body cameras violate privacy, in fact the use of the cameras will minimize violence, show accountability, and a human side of policing. These body cameras would help serve by providing video evidence that can be referenced and use anytime allegations are made against police officers and criminals alike. The use of these body cameras are somewhat in the evaluation and study stages, but they are quickly becoming the standard in some police departments across the United States. These cameras would not only serve to provide video evidence, but it provide accountability. The ideal policy for the cams is that they stay on and continue recording throughout police officers shifts, which would help eliminate any possibility of doing something that would not be used as evidence later on and help them evade the recording of abuse committed while on duty.