In 2021 the U.S. Justice Department announced that federal agents would be required to wear body cameras when executing arrest warrants or searching buildings. A 2022 Bureau of Justice Statistics report found that 80% of local police departments in the US used body cameras. The study found that departments that used body cameras showed improvement in officer safety, increased evidence quality and reduced civilian complaints.
@ISIDEWITH8yrs8Y
Yes
@9FBKC2Z12mos12MO
Top Agreement
I believe that police officers should have body cams. The main reason why I say this because they can be doing something wrong or illegal with the way they do their job. For example, if a police officer is beating a citizen with no reason they can get that on tape and it’s not just for citizens protection it’s also for the officers protection. There has been many officers who have been hurt by others and they should be protected as well. And I understand the job can be dangerous but they could use those body cams for Justice for them and the people in my opinion.
@FreedomEli12mos12MO
You bring up some valid points regarding the use of body cameras for police accountability and officer safety. However, it's crucial to consider privacy concerns as well. For instance, body cameras often capture sensitive situations involving citizens in their most vulnerable moments, and the widespread access and potential misuse of this footage could lead to a breach of privacy. In San Francisco, for example, there were concerns about footage from body cameras being misused or ending up in the wrong hands. How would you propose we balance the need for transparency and accountability with the right to privacy?
@Ars-Gratia-Artis7mos7MO
You're right, but it's not a reason not to have them. *Technically* no where in the constitution is an inalienable right to privacy mentioned, it's just somewhat respected. I mean, the cameras are useful, I don't think that should be denied, I just think what should be RELEASED should be vetted for safety to protect individuals involved who aren't cops.
@9JVTPYX 7mos7MO
“consider privacy concerns as well. For instance, body cameras often capture sensitive situations involving citizens in their most vulnerable moments, and the widespread access and potential misuse of this footage could lead to a breach of privacy. In San Francisco, for example, there were concerns about footage from body cameras being misused or ending up in the wrong hands.”
Majority of the time a police officers are on public property so that's like saying, sure you can't record via body cam but if you want to you can pull your phone out. About people being at their lowest point, to put it simply what does that have to do with the officers? their job is to protect and serve and if they can't protect you because they can use footage of a guy being murdered because of privacy concerns then that alone would raise a red flag. It doesn't matter where you are or might go there is going to be someone who miss uses something, this might something suc… Read more
@9F8MCCH12mos12MO
Cambridge University they discovered that the results of using body cameras resulted in an 88% decline in complaints against police officers and a 60% decline in police officers' use of force.
@9FN622K12mos12MO
If an officer or a citizen mistreats the other, or commits and offence towards the other, and there is no evidence to prove it, a bodycam shall act as a means to record evidence, and disprove any false claims if it reaches a court.
@9F95F29Peace and Freedom12mos12MO
For example the clips released about George Floyd would never have existed if not for police body cams and therefore the reason of his death could have been covered up.
@ISIDEWITH8yrs8Y
Yes, this will protect the safety and rights of police officers and citizens
@random17345 10mos10MO
"Cameras also protect police by providing evidence that they have made a legal arrest or stop and that they followed the proper protocol. Not only can body cameras help both citizens and police officers, they can also help to improve the relationship between them." from "Who Do Police Body Cameras Help?" on navalawez.com
@9F76Q62Republican1yr1Y
If somebody you cared about was killed wrongfully you wouldn’t know because it be there word against yours
@9M2KJ2C4mos4MO
If there were no body cameras to view, it would be your word against an officer's word, making it almost unlikely you'd win the case. But with body cameras, it would show the truth and the truth alone, no manipulation or bribery. Body cameras are necessary to keep our society safe.
@9L5TQ4M 6mos6MO
While I don't have much evidence, I do know that many people would perform crimes if they knew nobody was watching. Who's to stop a crooked cop from accepting bribes or abusing his power when the evidence the crime occurred doesn't exist? Plus they already have qualified immunity, to get rid of body cams is to give them way too much power.
@ISIDEWITH8yrs8Y
No
@9FL2B54 12mos12MO
Body cameras should be worn at all times to make sure that police are being just and fair to citizens.
@9FBKKLT 12mos12MO
Top Disagreement
If all police were required to wear body cams, this would eliminate the question of misconduct and if it occurred and to get rid of the "he said she said" conflict.
@9FF5C55 12mos12MO
Yes, I agree with this. It is the same concept as having a dash cam. It eliminates questions that could be manipulated by a party with more apparent power.
@PuzzledJ0intResolution12mos12MO
I'm thrilled to see your agreement here! You brought up an interesting comparison to dash cams. Could you share more about why you think dash cams and body cams share the same benefits?
@9FF84MWPeace and Freedom12mos12MO
I believe that by making every police officer wear a body cam, it greatly deduces any chance of improper use of authority or it could help prove innocence when a police officer goes over the line.
@9FG9PKG12mos12MO
I agree. The lack of confirmed evidence that we have in many cases is what let's the police force get away with so much more than they should.
@9FG8SSP12mos12MO
I agree with this comment. When police officers wear body cams it takes away from there being more cases about misconduct, and the "he said she said" conflict.
@9F95F29Peace and Freedom12mos12MO
Police should always carry body cams for both evidence of a crime and to make sure they aren’t doing anything suspicious themselves.
@9GNTTF5 10mos10MO
@ISIDEWITH8yrs8Y
No, it should be a police department’s or officer’s choice to wear one
@9FBFVSC12mos12MO
Top Disagreement
All officers should wear a body camera for evidence whether it be against the officer or for the officer.
@9F8MCCH12mos12MO
Body Cameras are made to protect the Officer and the Department in cases of misconduct, it only makes you look bad if you do soemthing wrong.
@9F8MGYB12mos12MO
The officers who would choose not to wear body cameras are the ones we're worried about. The police are the violent enforcement arm of the government. They need to be surveilled in order to prevent the government from overstepping its bounds.
@9F8YRB812mos12MO
Without body cams no proof of either negative or positive conduct will be available to review our policemen. With body cameras, a safer police force is provided
@ISIDEWITH8yrs8Y
Yes, but only for patrol officers in high crime areas
Yes, and there should be clear consequences for tampering with the device’s footage.
@5LDXQRM4yrs4Y
Only In black towns/ neighborhoods
@56WTPKP4yrs4Y
No, police should be retrained to deescalate high-tension situations and react to dangerous suspects with less lethal force. The reason a criminal isn't afraid to shoot a cop is the same reason a soldier isn't afraid to shoot his opponent in battle. If you threaten another person with death, expect them to fight like hell to kill you first. Furthermore, police accused of abusing their power should be tried as if they never had a badge in the first place. Murder is murder regardless of who kills who.
@5LDN8JL4yrs4Y
Yes but they should be able to be activated by dispatch officers, not the police officer.
@5J4LQMB4yrs4Y
Yes!!! And if anyone fails to do what a man of the law says, like "stop, hands up, etc.", then the policeman has the lawful right to arrest you. If you try to shoot him, he can defend himself and shoot you. If you shoot a policeman, you should be arrested and the punishment should be you life's punishment, no exceptions, no parole.
You do realize self-defense is a two-way street? This seems like a naïve perspective as if an officer can do no wrong. And really, there are real crimes to arrest people for instead of not following directions, especially if they're unreasonable. You should hold high standards for officers as well, kill/injure a civilian, they should receive a harsh punishment.
@57JJ5ST4yrs4Y
Regardless, eliminate all tax-based police departments and allow the free market to provide police services
@5KX4BRQ4yrs4Y
All police should be re-trained to learn de-escalation techniques, etc. And if an officer uses excessive force at any time, they should be fired. We need a new approach to policing.
@5KJKS7Q4yrs4Y
Hell yes! #BlackLivesMatter
Yes, this will protect the safety and rights of police officers and citizens, and we need reform so that any tampering with the device or footage comes with a clear consequence.
@Jones4Potus2024 12mos12MO
Yes, and should face punitive action if they turn it off at any time while on duty
No, it gives too much leverage to the pigs
@92DYGCT2yrs2Y
Yes, and they shouldn't be allowed to reduce or edit the video recorded by the body camera.
@927TSKR2yrs2Y
Yes, and they should be reprimanded for ever turning them off while on duty
@4XYN4HZ4yrs4Y
I believe that with the world we live in today, where a young man who actually committed two crimes (theft and beating a policeman until he had to go to the hospital) dies from being shot in self defense and he is the hero, it is absolutely 100% in the interest of the officer to wear this device. Generations struggled for equality and most did so under the non-violent protests and gatherings of Dr. King, Jr. Those courageous people did not suffer and bleed and March just for their grandchildren and great grandchildren could just throw down the race card and the start rioting and looting and… Read more
@8FYQYQH4yrs4Y
Yes, but preferably, we should decrease the amount of police that we have in the first place, and spend the resources instead on helping the local community.
@9F7SNL51yr1Y
Yes, and live stream the footage.
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