Over the past decade, officer involved violence and occasional killings has been accepted as a rare and necessary happening to protect the general public, but recently the number of these instances have skyrocketed at an alarming rate. Many are beginning to question the intentions of the police, wondering if they’ve taken an unnecessarily brutal and violent twist to their job description.Though many defend current police systems, there has been an obvious rise in on duty shootings ending in severe injury and death of civilians causing a need to mandate harsher consequences for on duty incidents and require body cameras at all times while on duty.
Officer involved injuries and killings is an escalating issue all over the nation. Abe Markman …show more content…
The article Police Body Cameras analyzes the possible outcomes of this idea. The article states that using body cameras could offer protection to both parties, equating to a win-win scenario. Not only would the footage “protect the public against police misconduct”, but it would also “protect the police against false accusations of abuse” (p. 8). The footage collected from the cameras would offer accurate account of incidents which have in the past been blurred with bias against police as well as the blue shield of trust which protects fellow officers from their wrongdoing with cover up stories. The same article further explains that body cameras could be the bridge of trust needed between the public and law enforcement through the feeling of security they provide. The body cameras would strengthen law enforcement itself by allowing a way to monitor officers activities and offer rewards and punishments based off their behavior. The general population would be affected by reduction of crime and overall aggressive behaviors in public. Knowing that there will be solid proof of any illegal activity if caught by a police officer, criminals may limit their activity to avoid jail time. Also, common citizens will be less likely to act recklessly, violently, or dangerously in public - possible cases including: sports games, bar fights, music festivals, and other public placing involving social interactions which may lead to disagreements. They are more likely to behave calmly in public if they are aware that an officer in the area could be recording their actions through a body camera. These examples are only a few ways these cameras could improve
Officer involved injuries and killings is an escalating issue all over the nation. Abe Markman …show more content…
The article Police Body Cameras analyzes the possible outcomes of this idea. The article states that using body cameras could offer protection to both parties, equating to a win-win scenario. Not only would the footage “protect the public against police misconduct”, but it would also “protect the police against false accusations of abuse” (p. 8). The footage collected from the cameras would offer accurate account of incidents which have in the past been blurred with bias against police as well as the blue shield of trust which protects fellow officers from their wrongdoing with cover up stories. The same article further explains that body cameras could be the bridge of trust needed between the public and law enforcement through the feeling of security they provide. The body cameras would strengthen law enforcement itself by allowing a way to monitor officers activities and offer rewards and punishments based off their behavior. The general population would be affected by reduction of crime and overall aggressive behaviors in public. Knowing that there will be solid proof of any illegal activity if caught by a police officer, criminals may limit their activity to avoid jail time. Also, common citizens will be less likely to act recklessly, violently, or dangerously in public - possible cases including: sports games, bar fights, music festivals, and other public placing involving social interactions which may lead to disagreements. They are more likely to behave calmly in public if they are aware that an officer in the area could be recording their actions through a body camera. These examples are only a few ways these cameras could improve