Ensuring public safety is the primary mandate of police officers. Most officers take all necessary steps to fulfill this mandate. However, as recent events have revealed, there are some officers who betray their obligation and pose a serious threat to public safety. Among the events that have revealed police failure to protect the public are the shootings of unarmed black men. Thanks to community vigilance, some of these events have been captured on camera. In response to the shootings and other incidents involving excessive use of force, calls are being issued for officers to be required to wear body cameras. These calls have proven controversial. However, there is no question that the body cameras are badly needed. Whereas it is true that they raise privacy concerns, the body cameras will discourage excessive use of force while promoting accountability among police officers.
Use of Force Issues
In their text, Swanson, Territo and Taylor (2016) indicate that the work of police officers is influenced by social and political forces. The calls for police officers to wear body cameras reflect the recognition by these authors of the impact that social and political factors have on police work. Many are persuaded that by requiring officers to wear the cameras while executing their duties, a culture of accountability will be created (Figueroa, n.d). In particular, it is believed that the cameras will impose pressure on the police to refrain from using excessive force. When they understand that their actions are being monitored, officers are more likely to act with restraint and to respect the wellbeing of suspects and the general public. Fan (2018) is among the scholars whose work forces on the role that body cameras play in enhancing accountability. In his article, he predicts that requiring officers to carry cameras facilitates oversight and allow for the actions of the police to be scrutinized. For instance, suppose that an officer is accused of shooting an unarmed man. To verify the details of this incident, police administrators can view recorded footage. There have been various instances where clarity has been gained regarding incidents involving police shooting unarmed civilians after a close review of dashcam footage. Other instances have involved civilians recording police interactions with suspects and sharing their recordings with the public through social media. All these instances underscore the fact that body cameras make it clear to the police that they are being watched, thereby enhancing accountability and discouraging heavy and unjustified use of force. Sandhu (2015) is another scholar who contends that body cameras promise to improve policing. He argues that an encouraging number of officers endorse body cameras as they believe that these tools can exonerate them should charges be brought against them for such violations as excessive use of force. Joining forces with Haggerty, Sandhu (2015) authored another article in which he argues that body cameras have transformed police work from a low visibility function to a high visibility mandate. Essentially, these scholars note that thanks to the cameras, the police are under intense scrutiny and they are therefore likely to be more accountable.
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Privacy Issues
The discussion above has highlighted the critical role that body cameras could play in enhancing accountability among police officers. While there is no doubt that the cameras will encourage officers to conduct themselves within the confines of the law, concerns have been raised that the cameras could present privacy questions. There are those who fear that the body cameras could be used to collect data on citizens without their consent. Furthermore, some are concerned that the cameras may be inappropriate in such situations as those concerning domestic disturbances and those that involve minority communities (Chapman, 2016). If the adoption of the cameras is to proceed smoothly, the privacy concerns must be issued. It is true that the use of the cameras could amount to a gross violation of privacy rights of police officers, communities and suspects. Whereas the concerns regarding privacy are valid, they should not distract from the effectiveness of the cameras. As observed above, there appears to be consensus that the cameras hold the key to protecting the public by promoting accountability. It may be that privacy invasion is the price that the American people have to pay for enhanced security and improved police accountability.
Budgetary Concerns
Privacy concerns are not the only issue that could hamper the implementation of the body cameras policy. Budgetary issues are also at play and unless addressed, they could derail the adoption of the policy. To support their opposition to the cameras, police departments contend that the cameras will impose unbearable strain on their already stretched budgets. The cameras are costly and to purchase them, police departments are forced to sacrifice other essential tools and services. This is according to Kimberly Kindy (2019). She reports that across the nation, police departments are abandoning the body camera program and instead focusing their resources on other initiatives. These departments are divesting in the body cameras despite their recognition that these cameras bolster positive interactions among officers and communities and serve an essential function in promoting police safety. It is indeed true that the body cameras are an expenditure that many departments are simply unable to afford. However, it should be remembered that the cameras are known to present various benefits. Instead of abandoning the cameras entirely, the departments need to appeal for more funding and support from the federal, state and local authorities. By seeking assistance, the police departments will be able to purchase the cameras and challenge their officers to use these tools to secure the public.
Legislative Action
In order to understand the effectiveness of body cameras, one needs to consider the various legislative initiatives that have been adopted across the nation. There are a number of state legislatures that have enacted laws which require the police to wear body cameras. As many as 16 states have introduced laws which mandate the officers to use the cameras to record their interactions with the public. The states without such laws have adopted other measures aimed at enhancing accountability. For example, such states as Colorado, Texas and Connecticut have set aside funds that are to be used for the purchase of cameras (Box 15.1, n.d). A raft of other measures has also been adopted. The fact that different states are taking steps to encourage the use of body cameras can only mean that the states agree that these cameras are effective. Were it that the cameras had little impact on police work, one would expect the states to focus their efforts and resources on other issues. The few states that are yet to embrace body cameras should follow the example of those that have provide police departments with the funding and support that they need to deploy the body cameras.
In conclusion, tensions continue to define the relationship between the police and such minorities as African Americans. To improve the relations between these parties, police accountability is desperately needed. It is critical for police officers to exercise restraint and respect when interacting with the public. Body cameras have been identified as among the tools that hold the key to enhancing police accountability. These cameras serve as a constant reminder to officers that they are being scrutinized. It is feared that the cameras could pose a threat to privacy while imposing a financial burden on police departments. These fears are indeed valid and need to be addressed. However, the drawbacks of the body cameras are outweighed by its benefits. Therefore, the entire nation should be united in expressing support for body cameras.
References
Box 15.1. Actions in wake of police-community unrest. (n.d).
Fan, M. D. (2018). Body cameras, big data, and police accountability. Law & Social Inquiry, 43 (4), 1236-56.
Figueroa, P. (n.d). Body-worn cameras: using the wealth of data effectively. Police Chief Magazine. Retrieved February 13, 2019 from http://www.policechiefmagazine.org/body-worn-cameras-using-the-wealth-of-data-effectively/
Kindy, K. (2019). Some U.S. police departments dump body-camera programs amid high costs. The Washington Post. Retrieved February 13, 2019 from https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/some-us-police-departments-dump-body-camera-programs-amid-high-costs/2019/01/21/991f0e66-03ad-11e9-b6a9-0aa5c2fcc9e4_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.aac239241f9f
Sandhu, A. (2017). ‘I’m glad that was on camera’: a case study of police officers’ perception of cameras. Policing and Society. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10439463.2017.1285917
Sandhu, A., & Haggerty, K. D. (2015). Policing on camera. Theoretical Criminology, 21 (1), https://doi.org/10.1177/1362480615622531
Swanson, C. R., Territo, L. J., & Taylor, R. E. (2016). Police administration: structures, processes, and behavior. 9 th Edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
