Jesse Williams said that, “Even though videotaped proof of police killing black people exists, many freedom-loving Americans are still unconvinced by a systemic issue.” (Williams). It is always difficult to determine whether police officers should or shouldn’t wear body cameras because we live in an unjust country. Body cameras should be worn by police officers not just in cases involving black lives but also for the sake of all lives. There is still hope that the country will be able to break free from the injustices of the justice system. It is important to evaluate all police actions, particularly when the officers have committed a crime that cannot be tolerated. You can add that the jobs and duties of police officers put them under tremendous pressure. Some police officers are faced with heinous crimes during their careers, which can have an impact on their mental health. It is not acceptable for police officers to ignore the rules. They are there to protect and serve. It is not true that all police officers have bad qualities. Those who do are still viewed negatively because one bad officer can bring the entire department under constant scrutiny. Police departments have a shortage of staff and are therefore rushing to graduate their officers. This leads to officers acting out of insecurity when faced with a crisis, pulling the trigger when other options are available. According to Issues And Controversies: overviews and pro/con arguments, police are trained in the use of deadly force. This is especially true when they decide that it’s needed. In situations where police officers can use deadly force and potentially cause serious injury or death, all police actions must be filmed. It is no longer possible to trust police officers, as they are not trusted by the citizens of the United States and their communities. This trust can only be restored if police departments take action and ensure that all officers wear body cameras. According to an article, body cameras will improve police enforcement and reduce instances of brutality. Body cameras can be used to reward officers for good work and hold them accountable when they are unruly.
The job of a police officer isn’t just about serving the public and protecting them, but also about the power that comes along with it. Police departments should require that officers wear body cameras, as they have so much control and power over citizens. Some police officers are motivated to serve their community by a desire to make up for the harm they suffered. This leads them to injure innocent individuals and become uncontrollable. CBS News reported in Birmingham that “an Officer staged an attack to make him look under attack.” (CBS News). How many victims of police brutality must there be before the police department says enough is enough? Harvard Law Review states that body cameras are an indiscriminate and powerful technology …. It is hoped that recording police-citizen interactions or video will discourage officer misconduct. In the hopes that video recording or police-civilian interactions will deter officer misconduct, the hope is that this will happen. No matter how much police departments try to ignore this problem, there will always be officers who do not have control. Police departments will never be able to recover from having uncontrolled officers. Citizens believe that police will always act in their own best interests. However, this is not always true. In 2019, citizens exercise their right to film police when they fail to signal properly while changing lanes. This is not what’s supposed to happen but it does. It’s interesting to consider why police departments don’t mind filming suspects during interrogation but are reluctant to do the same when they enter a situation with a citizen. You can ask me why I believe police officers should be wearing body cameras. A recent article stated, “Police officers are using body cameras to learn and they have the support of members of society.” (Police camera: Top 3 Pros & Cons). Police departments can benefit from the use of Body Cameras in terms of teaching officers what they should and shouldn’t do. To ensure that officers can do their job effectively, they need to show the members of the public that they are willing to rebuild the trust. The work that police officers do is commendable. Police officers are in a dangerous profession. They have to face murderers, child predators or engage in high-speed chases. The police are no longer feared or respected and many factors in policing have contributed to this. Police officers have become endangered because people are fed up with officers committing crime and escaping punishment. People are now convinced that they will take control of these officers, if the justice and police systems do not want to. These points should encourage police departments to be ready to give their officers the resources they need when entering the line-of-duty, including a camera. Police officers and those who dedicate their lives to helping others are often the victims of people doing crazy things. Body cameras should be used to protect them from these acts.
A police officer’s job is not something to take lightly. After all, it’s dangerous and serious. And one bad judgement could expose thousands of problems inside a department. Many people are taking advantage of the current situation to gain an unfair advantage. When a citizen runs a stop-sign, the police will pull them over and ask for their driver’s license, registration card, and proof insurance. If everything checks out, they give a ticket to that person and let them go. But, later on, they come back to work and receive a formal complaint stating, “the officer used excessive pressure”. The body-camera video will prove the officer did nothing wrong and followed all procedures for a traffic stop. Florida Bar Journal reported that officers who use excessive force are more likely to receive complaints. The truth could be the end of a law enforcement officer’s career. They may also face unfair punishment because they were told a false story. Body cameras will help you determine if your police officer responded in a justified manner.
The dangers that police face require officers to be trained in every possible situation. However, is this always true? The majority of officers are hiding behind their badges and uniforms and think they have done something justified. Children learn how to differentiate right from wrong. Kids learn that lying, cheating, hitting others, and being disrespectful are all wrong. Why does this fade in adulthood? Especially with police officers. Wearing the blue police uniform is an honor, and it has meaning. We don’t want to portray that our country stands behind corrupted cops and their actions. The requirement that all police officers wear body cameras will allow departments to identify officers who are not up to the job. Washington University Law Review says that “numerous states, cities and localities” have adopted police-body camera programs as a way to improve accountability for police officers in light of recent reports about deep-seated police issues, as well repeated incidents of misconduct by police. Public outrage over police brutality has led to a demand for police departments to take action. It is unfair to put police officers in the position of having to justify their actions. Sometimes they are not able or willing to give the full story, forgetting something, adding something, etc. It is important to respect and trust police officers, and not to distrust them. It is absolutely wrong to accept the actions of an officer who has displayed clear signs that they are guilty of misconduct. This sends a bad message to the other officers in the department. Police departments would like to think that everyone they train, and then put into the field, will live up to the ideals of the uniform. Yet many officers are deceiving themselves and are going unnoticed. You can either stand by and watch as the world changes, the people change, or accept it and go with the flow.
Works Referenced
Harvard Law Review (April 2015), p. 1794+. 2015, p. 1794+. Gale Academic Onefile, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A412800618/AONE?u=bir5596&sid=AONE&xid=f6ea7cd0. Accessed on 26 October 2019.
Lippman Gary E., “Will body cameras improve policing in Florida?” Florida Bar Journal. July-Aug., 2017, p.59+. Gale Academic OneFile Select, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A549336954/EAIM?u=bir5596&sid=EAIM&xid=e485f7c0. Accessed on 26 October 2019.
CBS News, 2 August 2019: “Officer staged shooting, distress call.” CBS Interactive is a company.
Sacharoff Laurent Lustbader. Washington University Law Review Vol. 95: Who Should Own Police Body Camera Videos? 95, no. 2, 2017, p. 269+. Gale Academic OneFile Select, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A515383346/EAIM?u=bir5596&sid=EAIM&xid=ab965cb8. Accessed on 26 October 2019.
ProCon.org’s 1st edition of ‘Police body cameras: top 3 pros and cons’, ProCon.org Headlines. Credo Reference, http://lawsonstate.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/proconph/police_body_cameras_top_3_pros_and_cons/0?institutionId=4837. Accessed on 26 October 2019.
‘Police-Body Cameras.’ Issues And Controversies. Overviews and Pro/Con arguments, edited By Facts On File. Credo Reference, http://lawsonstate.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/fofissues/police_body_cameras/0?institutionId=4837. Accessed on 26 October 2019.
Jesse Williams. “Humanitarian Award.” BET Awards. Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, CA. 26 June 2016.
