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Pros And Cons Of Body Cameras

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Police Officers Wear Body Cameras: Pro or Con?
Should police officers wear cameras while on duty to document their activities? The body camera is intended to provide an accurate, objective view of every event with a civilian. In an ideal situation, the camera would provide evidence of or discourage police misconduct while protecting officers against unfounded complaints of brutality or corruption. When unnamed black teenager Michael Brown was fatally shot by police, there was no body camera footage available. His death was followed by weeks of riots in the streets of Ferguson, Missouri and started the national debate about police conduct particularly when it involved Africa-Americans. While some witnesses to the events that evening support the officers account of self-defense, others argue that Michael …show more content…
Many in the crowd demanded that the officer be arrested and charged with murder. The grand jury refused to press charges leaving the crowds wondering what really happened that night. Would a body camera have helped the situation and provided more clarity of the events that unfolded? What has occurred since the event at Ferguson, Missouri has resulted in a high level of scrutinization concerning the use of deadly force by officers? The increase attention has resulted in renewed calls for police to wear cameras while on duty. Those groups that support cameras believe that they are needed to provide transparency, build public trust and provide evidence against false complaints. “But as more law-enforcement agencies begin using them, questions emerge as to when they should be turned on and off and how much footage should be made available to the public.” (Do Body) Law Enforcement officers should wear body cameras for the purpose of documenting and providing

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