These days, the number of corrupt police officers committing crimes while out on the field is at an all-time high. Videos are surfacing all over the internet showing these police officers planting evidence and assaulting innocent civilians. Police brutality is especially prominent among the African-American populations in urban areas resulting in the killings of innocent black men such as Michael Brown and Trayvon Martin. The controversy surrounding these events demonstrates a need for police officers to wear body cameras in order to protect both innocent civilians and police officers.
Police body cameras give other benefits such as fewer instances of violence, less money spent annually, and cases being closed promptly. These cameras reduce the number of use-of-force incidents, which translates into significant cost savings. Both citizens and police officers are safer from attacks and they actually end up profitable due to the money and time saved from incidents. They also lead to more transparency with the public, which leads to more trust between citizens and officers.
Body cameras can also easily disprove allegations made by citizens, which can save an officer’s life from being ruined. The number of people falsely accusing police officers of actions such as sexual assault or planting evidence is quite common nowadays. For example, a Texas woman became angry at a state trooper and alleged that he had assaulted her in the car. However, the body camera showed that the officer has acted appropriately and had not touched her in any inappropriate way.
Numerous studies and data point to the fact that police body cameras should be required on a national level. The power of police body cameras to instantly disprove an allegation and serve justice further reinforces its practicality. With rising crime rates and the number of criminal officers surfacing, police body cameras are not merely an accessory, but rather a necessary instrument to protect the lives of both police officers and citizens.
Edward's Blog 