Mandatory Body Cameras: Eyes for the World

      Body cameras for police officers need to be a mandatory thing.  The plethora of misconduct and illegal behaviors by police officers  is something that can no longer be ignored.  These cameras need to have checking mechanisms so they cannot be shut off and the feed needs to be on live television.  If this were the case, cops would evolve to actually being a public servant and not the current over-the-top militant that they are now.  

     Technology can do great things if we use it correctly—the key is, again, using it correctly!  Why not?  Why do cops not want to wear body cameras?  Possibly because they are trying to hide their illegal behaviors?  This author thinks so.  The invention works both ways.  That is, if a cop is doing his/her job correctly, then they have the evidence to prove it, right?  If someone is making claims of malfeasance, these body cameras have the ability to cease the untrue accusations.  Ask yourself again why cops do not want to wear these devices and do not want the recordings broadcasted to the public.

      Everyday in the United States we see these videos of cops using excessive force.  It is time to put an end to this.  All cops—state or federal—need to be mandated to wear these cameras via legislation!  There needs to be penalties for shutting them off and for departments that think they do not have to obey the laws too.  Serious penalties, that is, such as termination and criminal charges.  It is time to start ridding the criminal justice system of these barbaric assholes that call themselves police officers.  It is time to end the hiding behind a badge and being a criminal cop.  If the cops do not like the new addition to the uniform, then they can go get a new job.  

      Each police department in the United States should also have bios of all their officers on their website with links to their previous and current body camera recordings along with internal records.  These internal records should be created by an independent external party—not the police department. Let the public see how the cop interacts with civilians and, in turn, allow the public to see who they should support in the line of duty.  Why not?  What do we have to lose at this point? Or should the statement be we have lost too much already?

                   Photo Credit:  Benjamin J. Bolton