Notes

Over the past several months, there has been plenty of controversy regarding the use of body cameras by the police. From police and civilian interactions, to aid in court cases, having concrete video evidence of police involvement can help by assuring justice, and making decisions of the people involved. There are concerns against the use of body cameras, which include privacy invasion, discomfort, and misinterpretations. However, the benefits of the affirmative position outweigh the negatives. The following information will show how the nationwide use of body cameras by the police will increase safety and certitude for both the police and the public. I will now address the opposing arguments.
One concern among opponents of body cameras is the invasion of their privacy. Many fear that their personal lives and identities would be exposed if recorded when interacting with police officers. This may be an issue for those who wish to remain anonymous, such as crime victims, or civilians providing evidence for the police. A solution may be to enforce policies designed to offer special privacy protection to those who need it. Another concern is the officers' discomfort of constantly being monitored. Officers may engage in personal activities, such as chatting, or using the restroom, which could put them in an uncomfortable position when reviewing the camera footage. An article from the American Civil Liberties Union published in March of 2015 proposes a solution by deleting 99 percent of unimportant video in short order without being reviewed. Alternatively, police officers could be allowed to power their cameras on and off at designated times. An article from The New Yorker published in December of 2014 presents the final argument: video evidence may be subject to differing interpretations, assumptions, and prejudices. However, video evidence is conclusive, and rarely vague enough to be misinterpreted, or misunderstood. Additionally, body cameras will scrutinize details much more than regular surveillance cameras, such as those located in police cars. This will allow for clearer evidence to be analyzed. Every argument is valid, but they all have feasible solutions. There should be no reason to oppose body cameras when people's lives and well-being are at stake. I will now address the favoring arguments.
The use of body cameras has been shown to decrease the amount of unnecessary force used by the police. In 2014, the Orlando police Department performed a study where 46 officers were randomly selected to wear body cameras, and were compared to 43 officers who were not selected. The study lasted twelve months, and the results showed a 53 percent decrease in use of force incidents, and a 65 decline in civilian complaints against the police officers that wore the body cameras. Behaviors and attitudes of both parties have also improved due to the cameras. A 2013 report from the Department of Justice found that both civilians and police officers acted in a more civil manner when aware that a camera was present. False claims about activities and whereabouts may be easier to discern as well. Another benefit to body cameras is that they provide a more reliable account of events, than an individual's testimony, which may not always be entirely true. Individuals may be in altered psychological states, may forget important details, or may be manipulated to think and act certain ways at the time of their testimonies. Finally, conclusive video evidence aids in complex crime cases, such as the case of the murder of unarmed Samuel DuBose on July 19, 2015. University of Cincinnati Officer Ray Tensing was wearing a body camera at the time, which captured the details of the incident. An article from CNN published on July 29, 2015, elaborates on the dialogue from the video. Tensing was indicted on a murder charge later that year. The purpose of body cameras is to ensure the public's general safety, and when that fails, video evidence can be used to find the ones responsible for the tragedies.
There is still much more to be done regarding the issue of body cameras and the police. It's imperative to be informed on the details of this complex case. Said cameras have yielded positive results; it's only a matter of time before the entire nation endorses their use. All else aside, people's lives and security are what truly matter, and the use of body cameras by the police will ensure that both the police and the public remain safe.