Should Police Officers Wear Body Cameras

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Should Police Wear Body Cameras? “If officers and citizens are being watched, we are both more liable to do the right thing.” Travis Easter, Media Relations Coordinator, San Diego Police Department. SIRS data base reports that police brutality has been an issue since the 1990’s. in the past several years, police officers have been issued wearable video cameras as standard equipment issued by police departments around the U.S. Protests began to erupt across the country after the killing of a young unarmed black teenager (Michael Brown) in august 2014, the grand jury’s decisions to not indict the police officer in the shooting. Should police officers be required to wear body cameras (SIRS)? This paper will examine viewpoint one, two and my …show more content…

For starters, police departments are ensuring the use of body cameras. Firstly, body cameras drastically reduce complaints. For example, Gretel Kauffman, author for Christian Science Moniter, shares since the adoption of body cameras by police departments, they have been proven to reduce use of force, complaints, and confusion over officer-said-civilian said situation (Kauffman). Thus, body cameras help lower complaints made on police officers. Secondly, body cameras are useful when police brutality happens. For instance, Kauffman, reports November, 2016, two deputies were caught on camera beating a car thief with batons. The two deputies were charged for the incident. Therefore, body cameras can help prove police brutality. Thirdly, body cameras are supposed to build trust in our police officers. To illustrate, Kauffman, tells “the main motive of body cameras is to provide openness and transparency, and build trust in the police.” Hence, police officers build trust within the citizens when wearing body cameras. For all these reasons, body cameras help calm down …show more content…

To begin, the generally public will not be allowed to see any footage, especially anything controversial. Firstly, the Long Beach Police Department has already denied any request for video of police officers using force. For example, Jeremiah Dobruck, writer for Press-Telegram, shares that videos will not be made public because they are ongoing investigations (Dobruck). Thus, it probably is an innovative idea to not release videos because it may invade someone’s privacy. Secondly, the Long Beach Police Department does not want to hurt their criminal prosecution by sharing videos. For instance, Dobruck, reports that the district attorney’s office also has problems with not releasing videos to the generally public because of the people who make up the jury. Therefore, the Long Beach Police Department does not want to hurt their criminal prosecution. Thirdly, there are California laws that protect the citizen’s privacy. To illustrate, Dobruck, tells the state of California public records act when deciding whether footage can be released. Hence, the fact that California supports these privacy laws helps protect our privacy. For all these reasons, our privacy should be

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