The Time has Come...Every Cop in America Must Wear a Camera

At first I was against it thinking Cops could not do their Jobs...Now

We have to do it. We must attach a camera to every Cop in the US.

Now, we at ATS know how deceiving a video can be. It's still better than no video.

I have often wondered what if my Dad (who was a 30 year Veteran) would of liked it.

He would not of. It was a different world back then. He never fired his gun in anger.

He might just kick your a$$ right there on the side of the road.

His first thought was never to shoot. He was shot at. He got in fights, even got suspended.

Seems like with all the new toys some of these Cops get. Some just want to shoot.

We have to get both sides of these stories. I think cameras might change LE forever.

Complaints in San Diego are down over 80% since our local guys started wearing them.

Everybody feels a little safer with the camera right there on the Cops chest.

Too bad though...it's the same feeling people used to get when the Cops showed up.

I know we have talked about it some....Time for a real discussion ?

There is NO reason that a cop should be in uniform without wearing a camera.

I mean they have enough money to have MRAPS and drones.... why not a little camera?

I think just about everyone is for them having them. As you said it's been said be for here on ATS and I have yet to see anyone shoot the idea down.

Strict regulations need to be made on the use and care of them as well. That way we don't have anyone just saying "whoops I forgot it was broken".

If you can't already tell I'm for it. They can sell some of that military grade gear they got to pay for them, not like they really needed some of that stuff anyways.

Someone has to start policing the police because they don't police themselves. I'm all for forcing them to be more responsible, and to be held accountable for their deeds and/or misdeeds.

originally posted by: NarcolepticBuddha
Someone has to start policing the police because something tells me they don't police themselves. I'm all for forcing them to be more responsible and to be held accountable for their deeds and/or misdeeds.

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes...

a reply to: whyamIhere

We must attach a camera to every Cop in the US.

Hear, hear!

Not only but it must be functional and tested before going on duty as are their side arm and radar gun. If it is not in working order and broadcasting to an "independent" receiving center, then that officer is off the clock until it is.

Public office should be in the public eye, especially when lives are at stake.

a reply to: ObjectZero

The problem is when you deal with Police it could be the worst moment of your life.

Nobody wants to see that moment on Youtube.

There are some real Privacy concerns.

originally posted by: TzarChasm
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes...

Had to look that one up..

We wouldn't have to if things like "honor" and "integrity" hadn't been replaced by things such as "corruption" and "blue wall of silence."

Aside from that, at least a camera would be a major deterrent for many things on the part of both cops and criminals. You only incriminate/exonerate yourself when cameras are involved.

I agree that every cop should be wearing a camera, I think it would help to eliminate corruption within the department, and hold officers accountable for their actions, and I think it will eliminate many of what I believe are false accusations of police abuse by criminals who are just making up stories about police abuse to get out of being convicted of the crime they were arrested for. It is win win for descent citizens police corruption and criminal corruption of the facts exposed for everyone to see.

originally posted by: whyamIhere
a reply to: ObjectZero

The problem is when you deal with Police it could be the worst moment of your life.

Nobody wants to see that moment on Youtube.

There are some real Privacy concerns.

Simple solution. The date is stored till needed for a case file or other reasons, not sure what other reason could pop up but leaving that open for ideas. If the date isn't needed at the time it's stored away where no one can look at it. Releasing the date would require ID given and reasons for needing it. All parties in the video need to sign off on the release of the video for media uses. This does NOT include the cop that was recorded or any other cop that is in the recording. Any police in the requested recording can have their recording added to the requested list with no new reason given. That should cover the basics.

a reply to: ObjectZero

Great ideas...

They need to have some strict guidelines.

Seems like you could have a memory card for everyday of the month.

a reply to: whyamIhere

Here here.

But why stop at cops?

ALL government employees especially elected representatives should be cammed.

What kinda crap is this, our public "servants" operate in secrecy while at the same time recording and documenting all of our communications...

Yeah, and if you can afford it, buy a $50.00 mini cam for your self as well.
Better safe than sorry these days, since sorry seems to equal dead, when the police are involved.

What we need to do, is find out if your local PD has them, if not, start a petition in your town to get them. You want change? Start it!

Why stop there?
Maybe the government should mandate that EVERYONE wear a camera 24/7/365!

a reply to: whyamIhere

SD card main back up with a network upload per day which is sent to three data storage servers two as back up one as main that is pulled for data. The two back-ups can never have date removed from them and only clear data by time stamp, say 6 or more years old. This data can be compressed to save space.

If for some reason the main is missing data the back up one is pulled to mark the change for public. The 2nd back-up is used for a court case and as proof of file tampering. Both 1st and 2nd are sealed and guarded.

The upload is marked with the police ID and time stamp and is used to mark duty hours, no upload no pay.

Can you tell I've had time to think this over?

Remember the show "Cops"? Remember how generally nice and courteous all those officers were? Even in the face of trailer park shenanigans?

They did that because there were cameras on them.

I think this is absolutely necessary as long as our police force is armed with guns. Heck, I'd even bet that you could drum up some awesome funding by livestreaming each officer's feed on their own profile pages where you could Tweet to them and give encouragement or even donations to the department (call them "tips").

I hate to say it but sometimes feeding an ego will go a long ways towards ensuring peace. If a department cleaned up its act well enough with a program like that, it could go national.

originally posted by: gladtobehere
a reply to: whyamIhere

Here here.

But why stop at cops?

ALL government employees especially elected representatives should be cammed.

What kinda crap is this, our public "servants" operate in secrecy while at the same time recording and documenting all of our communications...

I agree...

It's too bad it has come to that. I hate the "if you don't have anything to hide" crowd.

Put cameras on our Politicians, Judges, Borders Patrol.

Maybe the camera could attach to his Badge.

There would be no good reason to riot then when another "innocent, unarmed" thug gets himself shot - cameras on cops would be great.

Sharpton would have to keep his mouth shut also...making cameras more than a great idea.

a reply to: whyamIhere

I totally agree, in fact no cop should be allowed in the field without one starting RIGHT NOW.

In addition, cops should carry 2 types of ammunition. Their guns should be loaded with rubber bullets and they should have a back up clip with real bullets that is only used when absolutely necessary.

So if you all desperately want individual police officers to have a camera recording your actions now, why do so many in the US cry about 'loss of freedom' regarding street-based CCTV?
I am almost amused by the shouts of oppression and perceptions of us in the UK, but CCTV catches criminals and stops oppression here as much as cameras-on-cops.

Police behaviour has changed big time since they know they are being filmed on the streets here. Exactly the same as the benefits you all want now in the US...but a tiny camera on a cop is not a breach of your 'freedom' yet a post mounted street CCTV monitoring your interaction with the cop is tyranical somehow?
I don't get it sorry, totally contradictory, an 'authority' camera is an 'authority' camera as far as I see it.
I support cameras on cops, and I support well managed CCTV zones - what's the difference?