Smartphone cameras have been catching officer after officer using excessive force against
people they had no business using excessive force against.
For every incident caught on camera, there are countless other cases that we never learn
about because was there to record them.
To try and fight this perception that their cops are out of control bullies, more and
more police departments are requiring their officers to wear body cameras while patrolling
the streets.
“It’s a first in law enforcement in Saint Tammany Parish.
Every member of the Covington police department is receiving a new piece of equipment, a body
camera.”
But we can’t really expect every cop to turn their camera on every time, can we?
“No, the officer has to initially turn on the camera and it’s mandated by our policy
— rules and rights — that they have to.”
Hm.
So every police-citizen interaction has to be recorded.
That’s interesting.
The cops can’t be liking this idea though, right?
“I like the camera.
Sometime I feel very uncomfortable when I go out on the street and not have my camera…
In this day and age it’s very important because you never know what you will encounter
out in the street.”
So it looks like everyone wants this.
At least, the good cops do.
And the data shows that cameras are working.
A study of police in California shows some pretty good results.
When officers wear cameras, they use force less than half as often.
Which makes sense, bullies aren’t going to be bullies when their every move is being
recorded.
Now, one of these body camera systems costs well under $1,000 bucks, which still seems
like a lot of money to put on every cop, but if you think about it, it’s a really smart
investment, especially when you consider that the average police officer in America is paid
$50,000 a year.
So what’s another thousand to make sure they’re doing their jobs the right way all
the time.
By reducing the number of violent incidents involving cops, cities are going to save money.
It cuts down on court system costs and the chances that a big settlement would have to
be paid for violating someone’s civil rights.
And of course, cameras will save lives.
And if that helps restore the public’s trust in the police, more people will work with
law enforcement to fight crime where they live.
Because now, a lot of times people don’t want to talk to the cops because they don’t
trust them.
If we can start to change that mindset, even a little bit, it could make our whole country
safer.
A lot of departments are already using cameras, but too many cities just can’t afford them.
And these more economically-challenged cities are where there’s obviously going to be
the most tension between residents and the police.
That’s where body cameras are needed the most.
Knowing this, President Obama has tried to convince Congress to buy 50,000 cameras and
get them where they’re needed most across the country as soon as possible, but he’s
run into resistance from the Republican congress to spend new money to purchase them.
Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said recently she thinks every police department
in the country should be equipped with body cameras.
So it looks like this is going to be an issue in the 2016 election.
It forces each of our representatives to say who they stand with: cops who abuse the badge,
or “We, The people” our police are supposed to protect and serve.
So while I definitely think we do need a camera on every law enforcement officer in America,
I think it’s important to establish some universally recognized best practices because
there are still a lot of unknown questions and concerns like: what’s the penalty if
a police officer doesn’t turn on their camera?
How long will the videos be kept?
Shouldn’t the videos be kept forever?
I think it’s also worth thinking about the fact that any time you interact with a police
officer, if they come to your front door, pull you over, or you even pass one interacting
with someone else on the street, you better smile, and have nothing to hide, because you’re
on camera.
Those are my thoughts, what are yours?
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Until next time, for TDC, I’m Bryce Plank.