Body cameras for cops could be the biggest change to come out of the Ferguson protests

[damnedifIknow]

"Within the next five years or so, body-worn cameras will be as ubiquitous in the world of policing as handcuffs, the police radio, the gun," said Jim Buerrmann, president of the Police Foundation in Washington and a former chief of police in Redlands, Calif.

Buerrmann argues when police wear cameras, they're less likely to use force, and that members of the community place greater trust in police."

*Available evidence suggests that cameras do change interactions between police and the public. When the police department in Rialto, Calif. conducted a trial, assigning cameras to half its 54 officers at random, the use of force declined by 60 percent"

*Buerrmann sees the administration's proposal as a start, but that cameras won't immediately solve the problems of police departments that have lost the trust of their communities.

"The problems go much deeper than technology, but this is the first thing that needs to be done to move forward," he said.

Whether Obama's proposal has a chance on the Hill remains to be seen, but there is some support among lawmakers for encouraging police to wear body cameras. After Brown's death, Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) proposed making cameras mandatory for any police agency receiving federal funds."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/12/02/body-cameras-for-cops-could-be-the-biggest-change-to-come-out-of-the-ferguson-protests/

[JaneyVee]

1. Couldn't it possibly save millions of dollars as well?

Seems like a win/win.

[damnedifIknow]

5. Yes it could

and we have to start somewhere or it's all just going to go down the tubes. I think the president is right on with this one.

[Kelvin Mace]

2. Great idea and all, but

video will make no damned difference. See Rodney Kind video for a perfect example of what will happen when cops are shown gunning people down without justification.

Who are we to believe? The cops, or our own lying eyes?

Hint: According to DAs who are totally in the police's pocket, its the cops.

[DMay]

3. cameras?

[Stellar]

7. So, must I assume those were cops throwing the explosives in the car...

because just think...if they had on body cameras. We would have had a much better view then from a distance.

[Stellar]

4. That's the Key....

Whether Obama's proposal has a chance on the Hill remains to be seen, but there is some support among lawmakers for encouraging police to wear body cameras. After Brown's death, Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) proposed making cameras mandatory for any police agency receiving federal funds."

That should help out, if they want Federal Funds.

[randr]

6. All the police officers in my county wear cameras

I live in a rural, western, conservative town in Western Colorado and the law enforcement officers have worn recording devices for some time. It is difficult to imagine why anyone would oppose such action but I am sure we will see a negative reaction to an Obama proposal.
It is high time we remind the people who work for us who they are sworn to aid and protect.

[Man from Pickens]

8. which will mysteriously yet consistently malfunction

every time a cop is credibly accused of unlawful behavior

Happens with dashcams with remarkable regularity, it's going to happen with body cams as well.

[cheyanne]

9. Next step: no local prosecutors

Local prosecutors are dependent on the trust, good will and cooperation of the local police in their job: building cases on police evidence. It is a conflict of interest to require the local prosecutor to indict a policeman. A special prosecutor from outside the area should be appointed.

Besides this conflict of interest, McCulloch has family who are in law inforcement, his father was killed by a black felon and he is on the board of an organization that supports the families of policemen and firefighters who have been killed.

His superiors know all this and still did not demand that he step down.