Police body cameras can threaten civil rights of black and brown people, new rep
Cams shouldn't help cops.
Side Score: 5
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Cops can benefit from cameras.
Side Score: 4
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2
points
It is actually a logical point. The officer does something dirty that isn't caught on video, watches the video, sees it's not captured on there, and adjusts his story accordingly. His story seemingly matches video, no proof otherwise, and he whistles as he walks away, knowing he's scott free and with an alliby. The officer could also do things intentionally off camera knowing the camera will catch everything else and be his alliby. A dirty clever cop could abuse the camera use. Side: Cams shouldn't help cops.
If the cop Writes a report in such a way so as to hide something and it turns out his camera never captured it, his story still stands. On the other hand, if an officer misquotes or misses a detail due to nothing more than human error, the defense attorney use this to her advantage. What I see happening here is that a certain camp believed police were massively corrupt and body cameras would prove this narrative. With more body cameras on the street they are finding that, rather than being a hindrance or showing corruption, body cameras are a boon to police. Not only do they absolve officers of false accusations, but they help fill in the blanks when memory fails, as it often does in stressful situations. Since body cameras are so helpful, the camp that hoped to hinder police must find another way. So they want to keep the benefit for the defense while removing the benefit from police/prosecution. They want cameras to be the anti-cop weapon they had hoped for rather than the pro-prosecution/pro-cop tool they got. The officer could also do things intentionally off camera knowing the camera will catch everything else and be his alliby And every time a camera malfunctions, this is what people will assume. But if enough officers are there and they all have cameras, this unlikely situation will be less likely. Side: Cops can benefit from cameras.
1
point
Part of me likes cameras because it pressures the officers to do the right thing... The other part of me thinks it might interfere with an officer's ability to cut someone slack and let them go when they technically are not supposed to. I don't think police officers need to be micromanaged. I think that being close to an area gives them a better feel for what is truly threatening the peace than what anyone sitting in an office off the ground could have. Side: Cams shouldn't help cops.
Studies show that complaints against cops are reduced in areas where body cams are used. It is postulate that this is due not only to cops acting more professionally, but from citizens acting more courteous and knowing they can’t make false complaints. Do you believe the body camera is an example of micromanaging? Side: Cams shouldn't help cops.
@TzarPepe Part of me likes cameras because it pressures the officers to do the right thing... The other part of me thinks it might interfere with an officer's ability to cut someone slack and let them go when they technically are not supposed to. This is a fair point that I had not cosidered Side: Cams shouldn't help cops.
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