Police Body Cameras: Are They Necessary?

Although officers claim they aren’t as unprofessional as everyone says, many people beg to differ. A lot of people have evidence on how they were mistreated, and how the officers weren’t at all professional. Others have been killed and seriously injured, but the idea is still up in the air after several years. To protect themselves, and others around them, police officers should be forced to wear body cameras while they’re in a case or are talking to a suspect while on duty. Having to wear body cameras would be a positive way to help the authorities to see the truth better than just having to listen to the voice recorder.

The Effect of Police Body Cameras in Society The implementation of body cameras in law enforcement has increased recently. The body cameras have had a positive impact on society. These devices have helped in the process of investigation of cases and with the protection of all citizens. The body cameras that police have decreased the likeliness of crime occurring because the individuals know they are being recorded.

Should Police Officers Wear Body Cameras? Every year innocent people are put in jail. The issue about this is that it is very hard to decide who is right. When it comes to court trials, there has to be enough evidence to prove whether the person is guilty or innocent.

Today, everywhere you go you are being watched and recorded by some kind of cameras even if you may not know you are. There are now body cameras that police officers wear that you are being recorded by in this day and age. Police body cameras are beneficial in many situations and help not only police officers but also civilians. Body cameras are worn because of many attacks by police officers and attacks on police officers by criminals. Body cameras are required to be worn and required to be powered on while on duty.

With technology advancing, we are able to use technology to monitor and examine. As the encounters with officers that may result in violent outbursts, civilians are concerned with police brutality and their rights. Body-worn video video devices as tools can be an insurance for the compliance of the fourth amendment. The sole reason for favor of police body cams are due to the unbiased record of what exactly occurred during an officer 's interaction. With this, testimonies cannot be distorted since there would be a new way to assert evidence.

With all the advancements in technology, there has been a public demand for law enforcement to wear body cameras.   Some police administrators, civil rights groups, politicians, and victims family have requested law enforcement mandate policy and force officers to wear body cameras in an attempt to increase accountability and transparency (Bradner, 2015; Fieldstadt, 2014; King and Disis, 2015; Morgan, 2015).   There are positive and negative aspects to law enforcement wearing body cameras.   In December 2014, President Obama created a task force to study twenty-first century policing, and proposed investing $75 million into purchasing 50,000 body cameras for law enforcement in the United States (Office of the White House Press Secretary, 2015).   Body cameras are an essential part of our modern day policing.

Body Cameras on Patrol Officers Body cameras are tiny cameras that can be worn on the chest, shoulder, or head. “Police have made use of telecommunications equipment ever since the invention of the telephone, but technology today is so much more upgraded” (Blackwell). Body worn cameras are certain to have a huge effect on law enforcement. While body cameras for police officers are being distributed to different departments the change seems be positive.

Another alternative to decrease police misconduct is through the use of body cameras which would hold officers accountable for their actions. Often, commanding officers exercise little supervision over the daily activities of their officers. Not only do officers patrol alone, but they are authorized to quickly create solutions and sanctions on the spot. This provides officers the freedom to get away with both minor and major violations to outright crimes. A tactic to prevent this from occurring is to mount body cameras on officers while on duty.

Oddie Shoupe, a Tennessee sheriff has recently been sued for proudly stating to his fellow officers that he loves to kill people (foul language was used) right after they shot and killed a man by the name of Michael Dial. Shoupe made this explicit statement under the assumption that his men’s body cameras were turned off and in the trunk of their squad cars. Fortunately, one of the cameras managed to record the audio. The issue at hand is that body cameras are definitely needed, police dishonesty and brutality is a top issue in the world and if body cameras are used, American citizens and the world in general can rest a little easier. Body cameras can help secure evidence in court, keep the police honest to the citizens, and shed

The camera has become one of the most important tools in the history of police and now the body cameras have taken the efficiency and the trustworthiness of the police into higher grounds than the past. These special cameras are so small that they can be mounted on sunglasses, clipped to the helmets or hats or it can be placed in the collar of the uniform. The officers have to wear them throughout the shift and the battery can last more than 12 hours. One of these cameras can be purchased at the price of $ 1200. There are several advantages for the officer.