Optional Accountability: Body Camera Problems With Police
What good are police cameras if officers get to decide when they are turned on?
There have been many instances where officers from various jurisdictions have failed to activate their body camera in-time to capture crucial footage of shootings and more. Some departments have had to discipline their officers multiple times for failing to activate their cameras.
If the hope was for the cameras to collect footage that would help to hold police accountable for their actions, then it would really help if the camera was turned on so that it could see what the officer was doing. If they neglect to activate the camera, either intentionally or unintentionally, then there will be a clear lack of transparency.
In one mysterious coincidence that took place in Albuquerque, 5 officers claimed that each of their body cameras had malfunctioned and failed to capture footage of a fatal shooting that took place.
As for the body camera footage automatically helping to lead to an indictment, that hasn't been the result to unfold in every scenario either. Just because an officer might have his camera on when turning up at the scene, doesn't mean that the camera is going to capture necessary footage that can help deliver justice and enable those involved to arrive at the truth.
As well, because there are limitations with the cameras, they also haven't prompted a reduction in the use of force like many assumed that they would once implemented. However, if officers have the freedom to choose when the cameras get turned on, then that establishes an opportunity for them to abuse that freedom to cover-up wrongful actions.
The body cameras are just a tool, one that many were hoping might be used to bring more transparency and accountability to law enforcement today; the cameras aren't going to achieve that objective on their own.
Perhaps there would be more opportunity for accountability if the decision to record wasn't left up to the officer on the scene at the time. Whether it's technical issues or neglect to use the tool in the first place, it's obvious that we aren't getting the results with body cameras that we thought we might get. Then there are also the privacy issues that go along with these cameras, and the worry of coupling them with facial recognition software. There are valid concerns for who has access to the footage, where and for how long the footage is kept and so on. The government has spent millions of dollars outfitting various police departments with these cameras, but has it been worth it? If the problem we're looking to tackle is corruption (police accountability) then of course, cameras alone aren't going to solve that issue for us.
Pics:
Pic 1 - Pixabay
Pic 2
Yes, I agree. Cameras alone are not a solution, they should be part of a wider plan, carefully studied, so that, at the very moment the police is taking action to control an alleged crime, there is a way to film the scene. This is a Good article, thanks. (Image from Pixabay)
They will do as they please as always . Like how our so called “freedoms and rights” are never there for as . They will abuse their power and use it against the minority
These cameras should always be turned on to avoid problems and so the police will act as they should with transparency
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The cameras turn them on according to their convenience, there is a lot of corruption in the police, and that must be dealt with in time so that they do not continue to commit injustice, thanks for sharing this important article @doitvoluntarily
And that's right, what's the use ... The unscrupulous police turn them off. In fact, the camera, this is important in their work.
Also unreasonable, look at the picture below:
what am i looking for? 😄
Compared with the blogger’s picture.
Law-abiding walkers leave roads and people convenient, and overbearing drivers ignore public interest.😢
to my understanding the cameras should be online and should be turned on automatically when the agent shows up to work, this way it would not be at the professional's discretion if it is turned on or not, this way you can see more clearly what is happening in the police action.
thank you very much dear friend @doitvoluntarily for sharing this news
I wish you a great day
Cops need real accountability. Competition. Consumer choice. Personal liability.
We need a whole reform on police.. they have become corrupt and more of a problem in society than a help. I NEVER feel safe when I see a cop, it doesnt matter what im doing I instantly feel like something bad could happen, and i know all of my friends and family feel the same.. thats not the feeling police should give us
I think police should be held to a much much higher standard then they are.. they should go to jail for not turning on their cameras or wrongful shootings or corruption or stealing or false arrests or not telling on their partner for breaking laws (you know, an accessory to crime.. something they love charging other people with), or whatever disgraceful thing they are doing, but they dont go to jail... EVER!!
Instead they get paid vacations for their bad behavior and then ultimately get their jobs back.. HMM, i wonder why they are all so shady! Because they really are above the law! And that kind of behavior will continue to perpetuate until we start holding officers accountable for their actions!