Will Implementing Body Cameras on Police Officers Be Effective in Reducing Police Brutality?

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MOOR graphic by LESLIE HWANG

ELVIN CHAU
Staff Writer

Police brutality has been on the news constantly, showing police threatening and beating frightened citizens. It is widely talked about because armed officers break the trust between the people and them when they shoot unarmed citizens for no apparent reason. Some police departments have tried to solve this issue by buying body cameras for police officers. Body cameras on officers are used to record officers on a daily basis, including their interactions with citizens and their responses to crimes. It is a good idea for officers to wear body cameras at all times because they build trust between people and police by showing the police that they can do their job right and reduce police brutality.

According to the American Civil Liberties University, body cameras are the solutions because they protect the public from police misconduct and at the same time protect police from false accusations of abuse. If police officers are not doing their job correctly, they can be suspended and investigated. When officers are wearing their body cameras, they are strictly disciplined because body cameras are an evidential tool and they feel like they are bringing the judge and jury with them. With that the police officers on duty are disciplined and will reduce police brutality.

Implementing body cameras on police officers will be effective in reducing police brutality. The public will think the body cameras are the solutions because they protect them from police corruption. Body cameras can make the community a better place since they will serve as reminders for police officers to do their job correctly.

 

KENNETH HOU
Staff Writer

Excessive force and police brutality have quickly become topics of controversy in the United States. While these two injustices are not new to the country, mainstream media and news outlets have done their part to expose unnecessary violence displayed by police officers.

In response to this exposure, police forces have implemented body cameras to monitor officers and hopefully solve this issue, yet police brutality still proves to be a problem. Ultimately, use of excessive force by police officers is a result of poor training and lack of experience.

On one hand, body cameras solve many issues related to police brutality. They offer objective evidence from the scene of an altercation and give citizens security in knowing that their experiences with police officers will be well-documented. However, in violent altercations, police officers must make split-second decisions that will ultimately determine their fate, as well as the fate of the suspects. Many officers will act impulsively violent rather than fully assessing the situation. To ensure that officers thoroughly analyze each situation and use force appropriately, more funds should be allocated to training programs that will allow officers to keep level heads in tense situations and prevent any fatalities. Further training will tackle the issue of excessive force at its core.

It is important that police officers always be held accountable for their mistakes and injustices; no individual should be above the law. However, it is equally important that as citizens, we are respectful to police officers and abide by their commands. By creating a safe environment for ourselves and for officers, we allow them to protect and serve.