Police Body Cameras 1

Rutledge 1
Iona Rutledge
Lauren Bradburg
English 101
22 November, 2020
Police Body Cameras; Are they Necessary?
The use of body cameras in the police force is a controversial topic. Despite the overwhelming
proof that employing body cameras would benefit the police force, many think that the miniscule
negatives far outweigh the positives. Police body cameras create safer environments that benefit both the
officers and civilians, creating more opportunities for effective reform.
Body cameras can improve the behavior of those on the job. If cops are monitored it would
become difficult for them to abuse their power. It can also hold officers who abuse their power or act
unfairly accountable for their actions, which can aid in police reform.In one case the body camera of
officer Pinheiro caught him falsifying evidence, though Pinheiro’s case was dropped the video evidence
put police reform activist into action.
Police reform is necessary, body cameras aid in making reform much easier. The presence of
cameras can create a safer environment and be used as a way to keep officers from bad behavior on the
job. An example of how these devices create safer environments is a database from the Washinton Post
the recounts six shootings in Montana “Those numbers came from news reports confirming that each
shooting was a unique incident. Of those six shootings, only one was recorded on a police body camera.”
(Lutey). The fact that only one of the shooters was wearing the camera cannot be ignored, of course
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cameras won’t fix the problem immediately but out of the 5 other cases how many would have been
prevented if all of the officers in the area where required to wear the cameras on duty?
The use of body cameras can make heated situations between cops and civilians easier to
understand with the extra perspective. They could provide evidence on crime scenes that can be replayed
to view details. They also provide footage of non compliance and other interactions that an officer or
citizen could lie about. Playing back this information helps other officers and citizens understand
circumstances and could help provide clearer pictures of events on the job. Domestic violence cases are
where body cameras have proven themselves in this aspect, the evidence provided from cameras during
heated situations becomes very important later on. ““When the cops are called and come through the
door, the victim is very happy and relieved to see them,” said Elliot Knetsch, prosecutor for the city of
Burnsville. “They feel safe. They tell the officer what happened. That statement given right at that
moment is more likely to be the truth than what comes out even half an hour later, when the implications
of what has happened start to set in.” (Prather).
Police need to wear body cams to create a safer environment for citizens and to aid in the reform
of the justice system. It will prevent abuse and neglect to hold cops accountable for actions by having
those actions recorded clearly.

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Works Cited
Kishor. “10 Pros and Cons of Police Body Cameras.” Honest Pros and Cons, 20 Nov. 2020,
honestproscons.com/police-body-cameras.
Lutey, Tom. “Daines backs police reform bill that includes more body cameras and accountability
.” Billings Gazette, Daines backs police reform bill that includes more body cameras and
accountability, 18 June 2020, billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-
politics/daines-backs-police-reform-bill-that-includes-more-body-cameras-and-
accountability/article_2e956ed3-562c-528f-8a47-5d3787e5adb2.html.
Prather, Shannon. “Police Body Cameras Are Newest Tool against Domestic Violence.” Star
Tribune, 27 Apr. 2015, www.startribune.com/police-body-cameras-are-newest-tool-
against-domestic-violence/301380871.
Rector, Kevin. “Caught fabricating evidence, convicted Baltimore police officer remains on force
2½ years later
.” The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Sun, 9 Mar. 2020, www.tribpub.com/gdpr/baltimoresun.com.

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Rutledge 1

Police Body Cameras; Are they Necessary?

officers and civilians, creating more opportunities for effective reform.

put police reform activist into action.

of what has happened start to set in.” (Prather).

those actions recorded clearly.

accountability, 18 June 2020, billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-

Tribune, 27 Apr. 2015, www.startribune.com/police-body-cameras-are-newest-tool-

.” The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Sun, 9 Mar. 2020, www.tribpub.com/gdpr/baltimoresun.com.

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