In light of recent events, tensions amongst American citizens and police officers have risen due to the alleged use of excessive force and the unjust shootings of African Americans. In the aftermath of such incidents, the integrity of police officers nationwide has been questioned, raising the issue of whether or not police should wear body cameras. Based on the increasingly recurring reports of such incidents, body cameras do need to be implemented into police forces in order to regain public trust. On the 17th of July 2014, Eric Garner was approached by NYPD police officers, on the suspicion of selling cigarettes without tax stamps. Garner responded by saying that he would not be harassed and that he was not selling cigarettes. As a result,
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For starters, based on early uses of body cameras, police officers are required to physically active their camera when they exit their vehicle. This implies that the camera must be manually activated when interacting with civilians or recording statements during an investigation. Officers therefore decide when to activate and deactivate the camera. While this may seem beneficial in the sense that it can be turned off to protect the privacy of sexual assault victims, it also means that the police officer has full control of the camera. Critical moments of an encounter or pursuit could be missed. Additionally, technical bugs are inevitable. The cameras can face issues at any moment and time that can prevent it from properly functioning, whether it is the result of a damaged component, a dead battery, an obstructed lens or other potential issues. This could result in missing witness statements or important evidence that could have been used in a court of law such as the behaviour of a police officer or a citizen during a dispute. Furthermore, as is previously mentioned, police officers have the ability to disable the camera to protect the privacy of sexual assault victims. Some cameras are beginning to emerge that record continuously, without the need for activation by the officer posing questions about the privacy of victims, witnesses and the police officers …show more content…
Rion, Scott Amalcar recently wrote an article that focused on police officer’s high use of excessive force, and targeting of minorities which argues that police officers often face no consequences for such actions. This is why body cameras are becoming essential in today’s society. There are simply no other alternatives, and while there are many cons to consider, the pros make an even more pressing argument. They highlight the need of body cameras, which would provide people with solid hard evidence and restore an ever fading trust in the police. The events that took place in Ferguson are a perfect example of the urgency regarding this matter. Nobody will ever truly know if Michael Brown was shot justly, or in cold blood. There will always be conflicting views regarding the subject, and it will remain so until real change
For starters, based on early uses of body cameras, police officers are required to physically active their camera when they exit their vehicle. This implies that the camera must be manually activated when interacting with civilians or recording statements during an investigation. Officers therefore decide when to activate and deactivate the camera. While this may seem beneficial in the sense that it can be turned off to protect the privacy of sexual assault victims, it also means that the police officer has full control of the camera. Critical moments of an encounter or pursuit could be missed. Additionally, technical bugs are inevitable. The cameras can face issues at any moment and time that can prevent it from properly functioning, whether it is the result of a damaged component, a dead battery, an obstructed lens or other potential issues. This could result in missing witness statements or important evidence that could have been used in a court of law such as the behaviour of a police officer or a citizen during a dispute. Furthermore, as is previously mentioned, police officers have the ability to disable the camera to protect the privacy of sexual assault victims. Some cameras are beginning to emerge that record continuously, without the need for activation by the officer posing questions about the privacy of victims, witnesses and the police officers …show more content…
Rion, Scott Amalcar recently wrote an article that focused on police officer’s high use of excessive force, and targeting of minorities which argues that police officers often face no consequences for such actions. This is why body cameras are becoming essential in today’s society. There are simply no other alternatives, and while there are many cons to consider, the pros make an even more pressing argument. They highlight the need of body cameras, which would provide people with solid hard evidence and restore an ever fading trust in the police. The events that took place in Ferguson are a perfect example of the urgency regarding this matter. Nobody will ever truly know if Michael Brown was shot justly, or in cold blood. There will always be conflicting views regarding the subject, and it will remain so until real change