Police body cameras have been tried and adopted by many departments in the United States. The popularity of this equipment is rising due to positive outcomes after the implementation of these devices. Why police body cameras? One can think back to incidents in the past where body cams would have been advantageous, such as the Freddie Gray shooting, and, more recently, the shooting of Che Taylor in Seattle that left people crying for justice and action.
These cameras ensure that encounters between civilians and officers will be monitored, protecting both the public and the officer wearing the camera. Is it worth the cost? Although this equipment can be expensive and is a main factor why more departments have not yet taken up the cameras, there is funding available by the government and private sponsors. Privacy is also an issue worth contemplating when deciding to support the body cams, which is why House Bill 2362 has been enacted. This bill limits the type of footage available to the public and allows citizens to choose to keep certain videos they are featured in private.
Yes, these concerns about the police body cameras deserve consideration, but they do not compare to the benefits they possess. These cameras don’t only capture the bad, they will also record the sacrifices and selflessness officers make to help keep our streets safe and will overall restore the depleting trust and faith communities have in our justice system.
Raeghan Belcher
Sultan
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