6.13.Current Issues: Body Cameras 
TIFFANY MOREY 
An overwhelming number of police officers welcome body cameras, just like citizens. The reason being the 
high number of citizen complaints received which center around a citizen exaggerating or lying in order to 
try and get out of an expensive traffic related citation. ‘The officer yelled at me and made me feel stupid and 
used profanity.’ Is an example of a citizen complaint often reported to a supervisor. Body camera footage of 
the incident more than often shows the exact opposite. The truth often is that the citizen did run the red light 
or failed to stop at the stop sign and did not want to accept responsibility and pay the fine. Body cameras 
changed the environment of citizen complaints; however, body cameras also ensure that grass-eaters do not 
partake in temptation. Moreover, those meat-eaters are held accountable for excessive use of force or illegal 
actions. 
Body cameras would seem to be the panacea for all police misconduct, the truth of the matter is not so 
concrete. First, body cameras only show one point of view. Until small drones can hover above the officer 
showing a 360-degree view, the accurate recollection of an event can never be indeed known. Second, no 
matter how full-proof department policies and procedures regulate the use of body cameras, there will always 
be a user that can turn off the camera in certain situations. Body cameras are one answer in a giant puzzle 
to hamper and stop police misconduct. As technology improves, so hopefully will view the body cameras 
record. 
Police Body Cameras: What Do You See Exercise 
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/04/01/us/police-bodycam-video.html 
“People are expecting more of body cameras than the technology will deliver,” Professor Stoughton said. “They 
expect it to be a broad solution for the problem of police-community relations, when in fact it’s just a tool, and like 
any tool, there’s limited value to what it can do.” You will have a 500-word response to the questions below. 
• 
First, go to the above link and complete the activity. Be as honest with yourself as possible. 
• 
Second, after the videos and this experiment, has your view of policing and the role of video changed? 
Do you think body cameras are worth the expense or could we do without? What are the pros and cons? 
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