Posted on Dec 2, 2014
How does the majority feel about body cameras for police officers nationwide?
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I know some areas in the U.S, police departments have already implemented this plan in their daily routines. I wonder if it will in fact improve relations between cops and the communities or will it fail. It's a great idea because the cameras serve for the cops safety and ours as well. There's just a certain way I feel about police policing their own. I feel in many cases that a police officer will back up a fellow police officer no matter what. Maybe a neutral party to monitor these devices? What are your thoughts on this new plan?
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-30290308
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-30290308
Posted in these groups: 
Accountability
Police
Accountability Police
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 55
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There was trepidation when cameras (dashcams) were installed in police vehicles - today no one seems bothered by them. In many european countries there are many people who install dash cams for their own protection against scammers - and I see that happening more and more here in the states. While we cannot always be on our best behavior - when the camera shows you to be an a$$hole, well, you're an a$$hole plain and simple.
Having spoken to many cops in my lifetime - my grandfather and father were officers - having that disinterested party (the camera) has put a lot of bad cops behind bars where they belong AND stopped a lot of he said/he said officer brutality claims before they got started.
Having spoken to many cops in my lifetime - my grandfather and father were officers - having that disinterested party (the camera) has put a lot of bad cops behind bars where they belong AND stopped a lot of he said/he said officer brutality claims before they got started.
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PO1 Julio G.
I think they need to be mandated.Â
Case in point - Ferguson. Did the vehicle have a dash-cam? Apparently not! The audio and video from a dash-cam would have provided compelling evidence to the case.
I also think we (Americans) should employ dash-cams and receive some kind of insurance discount.Â
Case in point - Ferguson. Did the vehicle have a dash-cam? Apparently not! The audio and video from a dash-cam would have provided compelling evidence to the case.
I also think we (Americans) should employ dash-cams and receive some kind of insurance discount.Â
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Spend the money! Lord knows they will spend it no matter what. Might as well be on something useful. If I was a cop I would want the security of knowing it was there. No false claims of abuse. As a civilian I would feel better knowing that the officer is on film so no false claims could be laid against me. Film keeps everything honest
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Personally I am all for it. Screw it, I don't care if I'm recorded on the street. I might even try to make a face or something.
I foresee only two problems: constitutional rights and reliability. HEAR ME OUT ON THIS PLEASE. The Constitutional rights issue comes from it recording when it shouldn't have. Some people don't like to be recorded even if they are just walking by. All I'm saying is that we are probably going to hear some cry-babies because of them screaming invasion of privacy.
The other issue is that it is an electronic device, electronic devices have batteries, and batteries die. There needs to be a way to ensure that an officer will have it one but that it wont die when needed the most (it would suck monkey balls if the battery died right at a controversial moment).
I foresee only two problems: constitutional rights and reliability. HEAR ME OUT ON THIS PLEASE. The Constitutional rights issue comes from it recording when it shouldn't have. Some people don't like to be recorded even if they are just walking by. All I'm saying is that we are probably going to hear some cry-babies because of them screaming invasion of privacy.
The other issue is that it is an electronic device, electronic devices have batteries, and batteries die. There needs to be a way to ensure that an officer will have it one but that it wont die when needed the most (it would suck monkey balls if the battery died right at a controversial moment).
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It's mostly a protective measure for everyone involved. If everything is filmed, there is no hearsay. If both sides know it is documented objectively 100%, they are likely to behave better.
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I think there are deeper issues at play than specific circumstances where Person X of a certain skin color kills Person Y of a different skin color. Â These issues, unfortunately, will not be solved using cameras. Â With camera footage, there will still be room for each side to argue its case -- specifically, cameras will not be able to account for everything that happened in that moment, so both sides will still be heated. Â
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All too often we see police charging people with a slew of crimes and then find out later that (thankfully for the charged person) that a video shows complete contradiction to the officer's report. The number of complaints drops dramatically when officers are body cam'd. Why is this? BECAUSE THEY BEHAVE THEMSELVES!!! If they know everything they say and do is being captured on video, they behave in a professional manner......gee, I thought they were supposed to be doing that in the first place! There I go "thinking" again!!
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I am all for their use. We have cameras in our facility, and just yesterday I had a confrontation with an irate inmate. The first thing that I did was to get him in front of one of the cameras in case things escalated. Luckily he chose to calm himself and follow my directions. You can't argue with an impartial witness, the footage speaks for itself.
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Hope it works. I think the criminals should wear the cameras, after all they are the ones complaining about being oppressed by the police.
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SrA (Join to see)
I can see your angle. That's your opinion and you're definitely entitled to it but I guess police brutality doesn't exist. I mean who's ever heard of internal affairs?? A corrupt cop? No way. Because oppression isn't prolonged cruel or unjust treatment or control.
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MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca
I was kind of being sarcastic SrA (Join to see) but thanks for pointing that out. Police are trained to protect and defend and react to imminent danger. If the crowd keeps questioning their judgment every time something like this happens, They'll only weaken their authority and power to act. Then they'll be complaining that the police didn't do enough.
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SrA (Join to see)
Fair enough. I definitely understand and partially agree with your point of view. I believe the racism claims are one of the major reasons why many individuals see this movement as causing police to lose face value. I have multiple family members whom are employed as police officers and am not easily moved by what the public nor the media think. I am aware of the whole "not every cop is corrupt or citizen a criminal" runaround, but this behavior and "proof" of misconduct of certain police officers is from their own doing. My keyword here is accountability. I also believe a lot has changed with the turn of technology and how it is intertwined heavily with our personal lives. Anything can be uploaded to a social media platform and in result allowing so much more exposure. Could it be that we are now being forced to address these issues, rather than turn the cheek like before? Police officers used to be trusted nationwide and considered heroes everywhere, I can guarantee if a survey was conducted, we would see a notable amount of people thinking different of police in this day. The way I'm articulating myself and the points I make may seem as if I have a personal vendetta against police but that is not the case. I donate funds to my local police department annually and support them as they give their lives to the public. I maintain my neutrality and just want accountability. This method would ensure safety for both ends.
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I agree with MSG Wade Huffman, and then some. It may reign in rogue cops, and I hope it will eliminate the cries of "unarmed" and "innocent" if a person is being an ass, attacking a cop, grabbing at his gun, etc.
Overall, I think it's a win-win for the police and the public they are sworn to protect and defend. I don't see a down side.
Overall, I think it's a win-win for the police and the public they are sworn to protect and defend. I don't see a down side.
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